US ambassador: reforms are needed in Algeria

Algeria can not be away from dynamism in the Arab streets. Authorities should open debate canals with society and listen to its preoccupations, US ambassador to Algiers David Pearce said on Thursday.

• “The Algerian people are seeking more freedom and democracy. Reforms will achieve its goals when they come on time and in transparency, sincerity, seriousness and peace,” David Pearce told a news conference at the US embassy in Algiers.
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• “These are necessary conditions to deepen and develop the democratic transformation in Algeria. The US encourages that,” he added.
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• The ambassador valorised the government’s decision to lift a 19-year-old state of emergency.
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• He believes that developments in Arab countries are a natural result of the Arab region’s frozen state. “The need to change imposes its manner which is different from a country to another.”
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• “Algeria’s interests needs to speed up reforms before it is late.”
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• Speaking about his work in Algeria, the US diplomat said he stepped up visits between Algerian and American officials in an attempt to deepen cooperation relationships.
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• He added that bilateral relationships between Algiers and Washington were dominated by security issues due to terrorism phenomenon challenges.
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• “Algeria is an important and a pivotal country thanks to its human, material and geo-strategic capacities. I visited several Algerian cities and I noticed the Algerian people’s talents and skills,” he said.
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• The US ambassador defended his country’s participation in air strikes on Libya. “President Barrack Obama was convinced that civilians must be protected.”
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• Speaking about the US position towards the Western Sahara cause, he said his country did not change its position. “Washington supports the UN Secretary General’s efforts to come up with a peaceful solution to this issue.”