facebooktwittertelegramwhatsapp
copy short urlprintemail
+ A
A -
webmaster
Ashraf Siddiqui
Doha
Ambassador of Algeria to Qatar HE Dr Mostefa Boutora has described the bilateral relations between Qatar and Algeria as “fraternal ties built on mutual respect since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972”.
In an exclusive interview with Qatar Tribune on the occasion of the 66th anniversary of Algerian glorious revolution year, Algerian envoy said the relations are based on several common components that contributed to its development, adding that political consensus between the two countries is marked by continuous consultations and frequent contacts between the two leaders.
He said the last visit of the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Algeria on February 25, 2020 gave a powerful impetus to the relations as the talks with Algerian President Abdul Majeed Taboune resulted in decisions to develop the cooperation in various fields. He said both countries also share the same insights on many regional and international issues, particularly the Palestinian and Libyan issues.
The envoy said Algeria’s glorious revolution of November 1, 1954 put an end to 132 years of colonial injustice and tyranny in the country and was recorded by history as the greatest revolution in the 20th century, with the enormous sacrifices made by the Algerian people with more than 1.5 million martyrs. He added that Algeria gained its freedom from colonialism after sacrificing over 10 million lives.
He said, afterwards, the country has made numerous achievements in various areas, including education, employment, health, housing and infrastructure, following a master plan, in addition to achieving social justice and addressing the implications of the mass destruction at the hands of the French colonial agents.
On the diplomatic level, Ambassador Boutora said Algeria has supported liberation movements around the world, defending the principle of the right of people to self-determination based on its foreign policy and resolutions of international legitimacy, including the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states, the right of nations and people to control their wealth, the adoption of political solutions to various international disputes and demand for the establishment of a new world order by bringing the voices of the vulnerable to international forums. Talking about bilateral trade and investment, he said there are opportunities for numerous joint investments in all sectors, pointing out that some of the joint ventures recently completed in Algeria in sectors like industry, agriculture, real estate and services.
He said that ‘Ooredoo Algeria’ ranks third nationally with over 13 million customers while Algerian Qatar Steel Company with joint investment of about $2 billion will be producing about 5 million tonnes of steel annually in the region of Bellara, Jijel State in the eastern part of Algiers.
The envoy added that Algeria-Qatar bilateral trade volume in the first 10 months of 2019 reached $45.49 million.
He said hosting the 2022 World Cup by Qatar is a matter of pride for Arabs.
“We have great confidence in Qatar’s ability to make this global sporting event a success as Qatar has been able to accomplish huge projects under the guidance of HH the Amir. This indicates that the country is deservedly eligible to organise an impressive tournament. Algeria is willing and ready to provide any possible assistance for the success of this great and wonderful event,” he said.
The diplomat hoped that Algerian national football team qualifies for the tournament and participates in making it a memorable outing on a sisterly land. He appreciated Qatar’s role in resolving regional and international conflicts through dialogue, describing it as an ideal way for disputes settlement. He said Qatar has proven its ability to overcome the impacts of the ongoing blockade at all levels and has turned the boycott into an opportunity to diversify and reinforce its economy.
On measures taken by Qatar to combat COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Boutora expressed satisfaction in the steps taken by the government based on its integrated health system and community sensitisation.
He lauded Qatar for its generous support at regional and international levels in helping a number of countries to combat the pandemic, and thanked Qatar for providing 10 tonnes of medical supplies to Algeria.
copy short url   Copy
22/11/2020
2044