Spain Praises Algeria’s Efforts in Counter-Terrorism

Algeria plays a prominent role in counterterrorism and ensuring everyone’s security, the Spanish government said.

Spain praised Algeria’s contribution to liberating its national Navarro Canada Joachim and noted that Algeria has a long record in such humanitarian positions. On many occasions, Algeria contributed to the freedom of hostages, while in other locations, it played the role of an effective mediator, preserving human lives and avoiding sad tragedies.

The Spanish authorities, represented by its ambassador to Algeria, received on Wednesday the Spanish national who was kidnapped a few days ago by a criminal gang on the Algerian-Malian border. The ceremony took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Algiers, where the freed citizen Navarro Canada Joachim was present, who extended special thanks to the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and to all the Algerian authorities, for their vigilance to preserve his safety until his release.

In his speech, the Spaniard thanked all those who contributed to keeping him safe at all times, especially President of the Republic Abdelmadjid Tebboune: “I feel safe with you. These are difficult times for me. I felt relieved after my release.”

For his part, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lounes Magramane confirmed on Wednesday that the Algerian highest authorities, headed by the President of the Republic, gave instructions to make every effort and mobilize resources to reach the kidnapped citizen, free him and ensure his safety, highlighting Algeria’s rich record in such humanitarian positions and its contribution on many occasions to the liberation of hostages.

On this occasion, Magramane explained that “the happy resolution of the kidnapping of the Spanish hostage in the Algerian-Malian border by an armed gang was the result of intensive efforts made by various Algerian security services with security partners in the region, during which all human and logistical capabilities were harnessed.”

“From the first moment of the kidnapping, the country’s highest authorities, headed by the President of the Republic, Mr Abdelmadjid Tebboune, gave the instructions to make every effort and mobilize the capabilities to free the kidnapped man and ensure his safety. The Spanish authorities were also informed of the developments in the search operations,” Magramane added.

“From this position, we can only express our deep gratitude and thanks to all partners that participated and contributed to preserving the safety and security of the Spanish citizen Navarro Canada Joachim, who is with us today in good health and well-being.”

In this regard, Magramane confirmed: “Algeria, as you know, has a long record of such humanitarian stances, as it has contributed on many occasions to the release of hostages, and in other places, it has played the role of an effective mediator in preserving human lives and avoiding sad tragedies,” reiterating “Algeria’s condemnation of all violent practices and criminal acts of terrorist groups active in the region and in various parts of the world in all their forms.”

He also stressed the “need to unify efforts and capabilities to counter terrorism and all acts that contribute to financing its criminal activities.”

Magramane concluded by saluting all those who contributed to the safe and sound return of Navarro Joachim to his family, expressing Algeria’s deep gratitude to the Spanish partner, which immediately after being informed of the kidnapping expressed its full confidence in the Algerian authorities to reach and free the kidnapped person, and praised the courage and patience of the hostage and his family during this difficult ordeal.

The Spanish ambassador to Algeria, Fernando Moran Calvo-Sotelo, praised the “decisive action” of the Algerian authorities in the release of the kidnapped Spanish national, Navarro Canada Joachim, praising “Algeria’s prominent role in the fight against terrorism”.

In his address, during the handover process, the ambassador praised “the decisive action of the Algerian authorities and all the measures taken” to achieve the release of the kidnapped citizen, stressing that this matter “shows once again for Spain that Algeria has a prominent role in counter-terrorism and ensuring our security”.

It should be noted that the elements of the Algerian National People’s Army received the kidnapped citizen on Tuesday evening. He is in “good health”, knowing that he “was on a tourist trip, and was kidnapped on January 14 in the Algerian-Malian border area at the level of the territory of the Sixth Military Region by an armed gang of five individuals”, according to the Ministry of National Defense’s press release.