Algerian FM Medelci talks to Asharq Al-Awsat :

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Medelci :
« Les éléments d’Al Qaida activant en Algérie reçoivent une aide de l’étranger »

Dimanche 5 octobre 2008 -- Le ministre des affaires étrangères Mourad Medelci a insisté sur le fait que les éléments d’Al Qaida en Algérie reçoivent une aide de la part d’étrangers qu’il n’a pas cité. Le ministre des affaires étrangères a révélé que la position de l’Algérie, vis-à-vis de l’organisation terroriste qui a revendiqué les actes perpétrés depuis le début de 2007, a « évolué ».

Le premier responsable de la diplomatie Algérienne est revenu, dans une interview accordée au quotidien El Chark El Awsat, en marge de l’assemblée générale des Nations Unies à New York, sur les solutions possibles pour anéantir le spectre du terrorisme définitivement, il a fait le lien entre la solution locale réussie par l’Algérie, selon ses insinuations, et les solutions politiques mettant fin aux questions du Moyen Orient, de l’Iraq et l’Afghanistan, qui sont des régions d’où active Oussama Ben Laden.

Abondant dans le même sens, Medelci a réaffirmé que des parties étrangères, qu’il n’a pas cité, aident les éléments d’Al Qaida au Maghreb Islamique. Il n’a pas renié l’existence d’une branche d’Al Qaida au Maghreb : « je ne dis pas que l’organisation Al Qaida est présente en Algérie, mais elle est présente dans le monde entier, et elle cible des objectifs dans le monde entier tout comme l’Algérie » en indiquant que ses éléments « Ne sont pas Algériens »

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Algerian FM Medelci talks to Asharq Al-Awsat

New York, October 5, 2008 (Asharq Al-Awsat) -- Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci is expecting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to announce the appointment of former US Ambassador Christopher Ross as his personal envoy to the Sahara to replace the Netherlands envoy Peter Van Valsom. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Asharq al-Awsat conducted with him in New York, the Algerian foreign minister expressed his belief that the fifth round of direct talks between Morocco and POLISARIO would be resumed before the end of this month. Medelci revealed in the interview, which was held at the UN headquarters on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly's [UNGA] 63rd session, that the Mediterranean Union project is still theoretical and in the process of being formed and said: "To this day, the Mediterranean Union does not have a budget and the EU's budget until 2013 has not included the Mediterranean Union." Regarding Algeria's relations with Morocco, Minister Medelci described them as well and good and reported that the Western Sahara problem is the reason for the non-normalization of the two countries' relations and also reported that the terrorist actions in Algeria are being financed from outside the country. He added that terrorism is feeding on the conflicts in the region and said reaching solutions to some of them might help solve the problem of terrorism.

Following is the full text of the interview:

Asharq Al-Awsat : Algeria is a member of the Arab League's [AL] ministerial committee tasked with following up on the Palestinian issue. What is this committee hoping for from the Quartet?

Medelci : Our meeting here with the Quartet members (United States, Russia, EU, and the UN) is an opportunity for assessing what has happened after the Annapolis conference. This assessment is clear. There are hopes and aspirations and there are at the same time a number of complicated issues impeding the process. Among these issues is Israel's unclear stand on the negotiations approach. More than that, the decisions taken after the Annapolis conference headed toward expanding the settlements and this problem prompted the Arab ministers to raise it at the UN Security Council [UNSC]. The aim is to send a dual message, first, by asserting that the Arabs are with peace and, second, we believe that the international community is not exercising its role toward peace by allowing Israel to continue with its behavior, especially as we take into account the fact that we have been expecting since the Annapolis conference what we believe to be an essential condition, namely, that peace is impossible with the settlements project, and what we noticed was the opposite. The Quartet meeting was held to discuss these issues and it was held in particular circumstances in view of the situation in Israel and the political one in the United States. In Israel, there is a change from one government to another while for the US administration; the situation needs to take shape after the results of the ballot boxes (during the presidential election next month). What we as an Arab ministerial committee are seeking under present conditions is a dialogue to ensure the continuation of the negotiations, either with the new Israeli government or the next US administration. We want to assert that continuation of the negotiations should not be at the expense of the Palestinians and their territorial integrity. The current stage witnessed relative improvement and we are satisfied with the situation following the agreement to stop fighting. We believe that the US role alone is not enough and it should be backed by the roles of the other parties so as to boost the peace process efforts. The Quartet represents these multi roles even though its role is not at the forefront. However, the other parties' roles with that of the US one remain important so that we can force Israel to respect its obligations and those of the countries near to it. This is what we asserted to the US side in the difficult and intensive negotiations which US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice conducted with Iraq before the participation in the Annapolis conference. We underlined the importance of taking into consideration the Arab initiative and halting the settlement activities. We want to revive these two matters once again.

Asharq Al-Awsat : Algeria is also a member of the ministerial committee following up the Darfur dossier. Did you meet with the UNSC members to delay a warrant for the arrest of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir if the International Criminal Court [ICC] judges do issue it?

Medelci : There is one point concerning the ICC, namely, issuing a warrant for the arrest of President Al-Bashir is unacceptable to the African group, the Arab and Islamic one, and even the nonaligned countries. It is unacceptable as a notion to all these groups because the trial of a head of a state by an international court is unacceptable in principle. The second point concerns the Darfur issue and its association with the UN. It needs mediation and this mediation should not be limited to the UN and the presence of international forces. This is not enough and comes within the purely military solutions. We stress the need for a political solution and here comes the role of the Arab initiative which the AL formulated in coordination with the State of Qatar. It was later enlarged to be joined by the African Union [AU] and became an Arab-African initiative. The ministerial committee held three meetings in New York and will continue its work to make a connection between the political solution for Darfur and the issue raised by the ICC. This means that it is impossible to reach a political solution while President Al-Bashir remains at the same time wanted by the ICC Prosecutor Luis Ocampo. This looks impossible. On the contrary, we consider President Al-Bashir the basis for the political solution and therefore it is important to resort to Article 16 in the ICC's Rome statutes. We are demanding from the UNSC to take a decision postponing the issuance of the arrest warrant for one year. This is the starting point for the consultations we are holding with the UNSC members.

Asharq Al-Awsat : What is the outcome of your meetings with the UNSC members?

Medelci : What we are seeking is to persuade all the parties to look at the Arab-African initiative. Around nine UNSC members are convincedof it but other parties have either reservations about it or reject it.

Asharq Al-Awsat : France laid down conditions for agreeing to postpone issuing the arrest warrant.

Medelci : It seems to me that France has reservation about the initiative. But we started to feel during the past few days that it began to understand the connection between the political solution and the ICC. It is true that France's stand is unofficial but it seems to me that it is acting to reach agreement among the UNSC members before submitting a draft resolution for postponing the issuance of the arrest warrant by the ICC.

Asharq Al-Awsat : No decision has so far been made by the ICC to issue an arrest warrant.

Medelci : A decision to issue a warrant for the arrest of President Al-Bashir might be taken two months from now. Since the case is now before the UNSC, we are trying to create a consensual atmosphere that accepts the Arab-African initiative. In order to act, we have formed a quadripartite committee that includes members from the AL, AU, and Qatar. We will come to the UNSC after a few weeks, God willing, and hope it will take a resolution suspending the decision of the ICC against Al-Bashir.

Asharq Al-Awsat : It seems that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is about to announce the appointment of a special envoy to the Sahara and former US Ambassador Christopher Ross is apparently the candidate for this post. Were the parties consulted about the choice of Ross?

Medelci : As you know, news of Ambassador Ross's appointment appeared few weeks ago in the media. According to my information, the appointment decision will be announced very soon, within the few next days. I believe he will be the one announcing his appointment as the special envoy to the Western Sahara. A special envoy needs to be appointed soon so as to resume the fifth round of direct negotiations between Morocco and POLISARIO.

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Asharq Al-Awsat : The Arab Maghreb Union's [AMU] foreign ministers were supposed to meet with the Mediterranean Union's foreign ministers but the meeting was not held. Was there a reason for that?

Medelci : The meeting was cancelled because it was not planned and because some members were not present. The meeting was not planned to behold on the sidelines of the UNGA session and the idea for holding it was spontaneous. But it did not happen and we were unable to bring together all the members. There is however coordination, especially by the Arabs who are Mediterranean Union members.

Asharq Al-Awsat : The AMU countries attached particular importance to the meeting with the Mediterranean Union. What were they expecting from this meeting which they considered important?

Medelci : What the AMU wants from the Mediterranean Union countries is proper cooperation and not the political discourse and return to the known problems. What we wanted from that meeting was the qualitative move that comes through concrete projects reflecting the aspiration of the Mediterranean Sea basin's countries to develop the region. We found that we did not have the resources to meet such a determination quickly. We are still clearly waiting for the EU to determine new resources and capabilities for this big project. To this day, the Mediterranean Union does not have a budget and the EU's budget until 2013 has not included the Mediterranean Union. On these bases, we believe that the Union project is moving gradually and theoretically only.

Asharq Al-Awsat : How do you see Algeria's relationship with Morocco?

Medelci : Our relations with Morocco are good and there are no problems, apart from Morocco's stand on the Western Sahara issue, which does not appear encouraging for solving the problems between Algeria and Morocco. To us, the issue is simple, that is, we are acting on the basis of the UNSC resolutions which underline the principle of self-determination and enabling the Sahraoui people to choose either option A or option B. As it is obvious, POLISARIO is ready to enter into negotiations on these bases but the problem is the Moroccans' insistence on their choice (self-rule), which in their view is nonnegotiable. The problem between us is Morocco's insistence on solving the Sahara problem within the self-rule framework. I believe this insistence is the cause of the problem between Algeria and Morocco. We are hoping for positive stands in the coming days, God willing. We encourage every party, whoever it is, to reach a solution as long as this allows the Sahraouis to make their own decision freely in implementation of international law and UNSC resolutions.

Asharq Al-Awsat : Some UNSC countries support the Moroccan proposal for self-rule, specifically the United States and France. Why the insistence on the UN's plan for a referendum?

Medelci : These countries' stand as UNSC members is inconsistent with the UNSC resolutions. What I mean is that they make a resolution and then take another stand outside the UNSC. These inconsistencies seems tome to be very dangerous.

Asharq Al-Awsat : Do you not think that the UN's plan for referendum in the Sahara has reached a dead end?

Medelci : This confirms there is not a mechanism for the Sahara issue capable of solving the problems. It is part of the problems that have not been solved, among them for example the Middle East and Palestine issue about which many resolutions were taken at the UNSC level that are clear but not implemented. The same applies to the Western Sahara problem.

Asharq Al-Awsat : Are you expecting a round of negotiations between Morocco and POLISARIO in the near future?

Medelci : We are expecting a next round after the UN secretary general announces the appointment of his new envoy who will make a tour of the region to consult all the parties concerned with the conflict. We are hoping that the fifth round of talks will start before the end of the year.

Asharq Al-Awsat : Following the attack on the UN offices in Algeria in December 2007, a UN report presented by former Foreign Minster Lakhdar Brahimi concluded that the UN has stopped being neutral in the view of some people. Do you agree with this conclusion?

Medelci : We helped this committee and gave it information and it prepared a report in which we did not have a hand. The UN used at the same time the criteria for which it is responsible. I believe the UN should review its security arrangements after this report, especially in places and locations for which it is responsible. It might need new UNGA resolutions to finance the new security measures for protecting its locations.

Asharq Al-Awsat : Lakhdar Brahimi mentioned in his report that there is almost popular support for these attacks since the UN has stopped being neutral. Do you agree with this assessment that there is popular discontent with the UN in Algeria?

Medelci : I believe this is a wrong image because the UN represents all its member states. It seems to me that the UN image among the masses is not understood as it should be. Even the UN secretary general felt this and he is now working on a strategy to clarify the UN image.

Asharq Al-Awsat : The national reconciliation plan proposed by President Abdelziz Bouteflika has not succeeded so far since the armed groups continue to carry out their operations in the country. Can we say that the reconciliation plan has failed?

Medelci : I believe national reconciliation gave everyone the chance to join society and return to their families. We recorded the return to their families of thousands who had taken up arms and were given their full rights. As to some incidents in Algeria, their element is in our opinion non-Algerian and the elements which carried them out were financed by parties outside Algeria. We believe that terrorism is not internal and despite our solution of internal terrorism, the problem is outside Algeria and an international one.

Asharq Al-Awsat : Are you talking about the presence of Al-Qaeda in Algeria?

Medelci : I am not saying that the Al-Qaeda organization is present in Algeria but is present in various parts of the world. It is targeting other targets in the world in the same way it is targeting Algeria. Algeria is one of these targets. What we need is to reach a radical solution and this might come from the political solutions of some conflicts in our region, like the Middle East problems and Iraq and Afghanistan ones. We believe that these problems are part of the reasons that feed and continue to feed terrorism in the world. We therefore think it is not possible to reach a final solution for the terrorism question without a solution for these political problems in the Middle East, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

[elho]

Je croix pas vraiment à ces histoires de terrorisme!!! Je penses comme beaucoup que le 11septembre était sous les yeux au moyens de puissantes forces et que le terrorisme en Algerie l'était aussi, il suffit de lire et entendre les témoignages de ses acteurs.

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Dans un entretien au journal saoudien Echarq Al Awssat,
Medelci affirme que l’Algérie encourage toute partie à trouver une solution à la cause sahraouie

Lundi 6 octobre 2008 -- L’Algérie n’a pas changé d’un iota sa position vis-à-vis des importantes questions internationales. C’est ce qui a été confirmé par le chef de la diplomatie algérienne, M. Mourad Medelci, à l’occasion de l’entretien qu’il a accordé au quotidien saoudien Echarq Al Awssat samedi dernier. Une opportunité pour le ministre des Affaires étrangères de préciser que l’Algérie encourage «toute partie quelle qu’elle soit à trouver une solution à la question du Sahara occidental à même de permettre au peuple sahraoui de décider librement de son sort conformément au droit international et aux résolutions du Conseil de sécurité». Une position qu’a de tout temps soutenue l’Algérie qui, indique M. Medelci, entretient de bonnes relations avec le royaume chérifien. «Les relations entre l’Algérie et le Maroc sont bonnes», a-t-il affirmé, en précisant que le seul différend reste «la position du Maroc à l’égard de la question du Sahara occidental». Il expliquera sur ce dernier chapitre que l’Algérie entend solutionner le conflit sur «la base des résolutions du Conseil de sécurité, soulignant le principe d’autodétermination et le droit du peuple sahraoui d’opter pour une solution ou une autre». Relevant que le Front Polisario - tel qu’il a été annoncé - «était disposé à entrer en négociations sur cette base», M. Medelci a précisé que «le problème est que le Maroc insiste sur le règlement de la question du Sahara occidental dans le cadre du plan d’autonomie». Et de renchérir que l’Algérie encourage «toute partie en vue de trouver une solution à la question sahraouie à même de permettre au peuple sahraoui de décider librement de son sort conformément au droit international et aux résolutions du Conseil de sécurité».

A la question de savoir si le plan de l’ONU pour l’organisation du référendum était dans l’impasse, le ministre dira que cela «atteste de l’absence d’un mécanisme pour le règlement de la question sahraouie qui figure parmi les questions non réglées, dont celles du Proche-Orient et de la Palestine». M. Medelci indiquera, dans ce sillage, que «plusieurs résolutions ont été prises au niveau du Conseil de sécurité et que ces résolutions étaient très claires mais n’ont pas été appliquées, ce qui est le cas pour la question du Sahara occidental». Par ailleurs, le ministre affirmera sa conviction de voir programmer un 5e round de négociations entre le Maroc et le Front Polisario. Un round qui se tiendra après l’annonce par le SG de l’ONU de la nomination de son nouvel envoyé qui se rendra dans la région pour se concerter avec toutes les parties au conflit, tout en souhaitant le début du 5ème round avant la fin de l’année en cours.

A une question sur l’annulation de la réunion des ministres des Affaires étrangères des pays de l’UMA et ceux des pays membres de l’Union pour la Méditerranée (UPM), M. Medelci a précisé que la réunion n’était pas programmée en marge des travaux de la session de l’Assemblée générale de l’ONU, rappelant que l’idée de la réunion est venue «spontanément» et qu’elle a été annulée pour n’avoir pas pu rassembler tous les membres, affirmant que la coordination existe notamment en ce qui concerne les pays arabes membres de l’UPM. L’UMA attend des pays de la Méditerranée «une véritable coopération et non un discours politique», a affirmé M. Medelci, soulignant que le but de ce genre de rencontre est de réaliser «un saut qualitatif» à travers des projets concrets qui reflètent les objectifs des pays du Bassin méditerranéen qui œuvrent en faveur du développement de la région. Ce qui amènera le ministre des Affaires étrangères à dire : «Nous nous sommes retrouvés sans moyens pour satisfaire rapidement cette volonté et nous attendons toujours que l’UE trouve les capacités et les ressources nouvelles pour ce grand projet.» Le projet de l’UPM, a poursuivi M. Medelci, avance «progressivement du point de vue théorique seulement» car, a-t-il noté, «jusqu’à ce jour, les pays de l’UPM ne disposent pas d’un budget sachant que celui de l’UE jusqu’à 2013 n’a pas inclus le projet de l’Union pour la Méditerranée et il n’est pas à l’ordre du jour».

Quant à la rencontre de la commission ministérielle arabe chargée de suivre le dossier palestinien avec le quartette international, le ministre a rappelé les conditions particulières dans lesquelles s’est tenue cette réunion au regard de la situation politique aux Etats-Unis et en Israël. Cette rencontre, a-t-il précisé, était l’occasion de procéder à l’évaluation de l’après-Annapolis qui a fait clairement état «d’espoirs et d’ambitions ainsi que de nombreuses entraves», a-t-il dit. Parmi ces entraves, M. Medelci citera la position ambiguë d’Israël vis-à-vis du processus de négociations et la question des colonies israéliennes qui se sont étendues après la conférence. Relevant que «la communauté internationale ne joue pas son rôle en faveur de la paix», M. Medelci soulignera que cette position a permis à Israël de poursuivre ses agissements, notamment la construction et l’élargissement des colonies, particulièrement après Annapolis. Concernant le dossier du Darfour, notamment le mandat d’arrêt demandé par la Cour pénale internationale contre le président soudanais, le ministre a fait observer que ledit mandat contre le président El Béchir est «rejeté» par les groupes arabe et africain et celui des Non-alignés. M. Medelci a réaffirmé la nécessité d’une solution politique à la question du Darfour et, à partir de là, a-t-il dit, interviendra l’initiative arabe élaborée par la Ligue arabe en coordination avec l’Etat du Qatar, sachant que cette initiative s’est élargie pour englober l’Union africaine, devenant ainsi une initiative arabo-africaine. La mission de la commission actuellement, a-t-il dit, est «de créer un climat consensuel» en faveur de l’initiative arabo-africaine.

«Les derniers attentats ont été financés par l’extérieur»

Les derniers attentats qui ont endeuillé l’Algérie ont été financés par des parties étrangères. C’est du moins l’intime conviction du chef de la diplomatie algérienne dans son entretien au quotidien saoudien Echarq Al Awssat. Les auteurs des derniers attentats en Algérie «n’étaient pas des Algériens» et ces derniers «ont été financés de l’extérieur». M. Medelci ajoutera que le terrorisme est un «problème international». Il a également rappelé que la réconciliation nationale a permis à tout un chacun de «réintégrer la société, de rejoindre sa famille et d’obtenir ses pleins droits». Quant à la présence de l’organisation d’Al Qaïda en Algérie, M. Medelci dira qu’elle est présente dans plusieurs endroits du monde et cible l’Algérie comme tout autre pays. «Nous avons besoin d’une solution radicale» qui pourrait, a-t-il dit, «résulter des solutions politiques de certains conflits que connaît notre région», tels le Proche-Orient, l’Irak et l’Afghanistan. Il s’est dit convaincu que «ces problèmes font partie des causes du terrorisme dans le monde».

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Mourad Medelci, dans un entretien accordé à Asharq al Awsat :
“Les relations algéro-marocaines sont ordinaires”

Dimanche 19 Juillet 2009 -- Existe-t-il une crise entre l’Algérie et le Maroc ? Assurément non, selon le ministre algérien des affaires étrangères, lequel, dans une interview accordée au quotidien londonien arabophone Asharq al Awsat, affirme qu’entre Alger et Rabat, les relations sont tout ce qu’il y a d’ordinaires comme le montrent les contacts fréquents entre les deux parties, y compris entre le président Bouteflika et le roi Mohammed VI. Faisant le point sur les derniers développements sur la scène mondiale, dont le dernier sommet des pays non-alignés, le chef de la diplomatie algérienne a également parlé des rapports algéro-marocains, qu’il a qualifiés de réguliers dans la mesure où les échanges entre les responsables des deux pays existent de façon permanente. Pour argumenter, il citera à titre d’exemple la régularité des contacts entre Abdelaziz Bouteflika et Mohammed VI, dont le dernier en date remonte à la semaine écoulée. En effet, en réponse à la question de savoir s’il pourrait avoir des relations normales entre les pays et non saisonnières, Medelci dira qu’elles sont “ordinaires” et qu’il n’y avait aucun problème.

Par ailleurs, interrogé sur la question de la fermeture de la frontière entre l’Algérie et le Maroc, le ministre des affaires étrangères dira que cette question n’empêche pas l’existence de relations entre Rabat et Alger comme c’est le cas avec tous les autres pays. “À partir de là, sa réouverture nécessite une sécurisation des deux côtés”, soulignera-t-il. Quant à la question du Sahara occidental, le ministre algérien affirmera qu’elle n’a aucun rapport avec l’affaire des frontières. Dans le même ordre d’idées, il déclarera que “le communiqué final du mouvement des non-alignés sur le conflit sahraoui réaffirme le droit à l’autodétermination du peuple du Sahara occidental sur la base des résolutions du Conseil de sécurité de l’ONU et de l’initiative du secrétaire général des Nations unies. L’Algérie ne ménage aucun effort pour que l’on aboutisse à cette solution”.

Pour en revenir au sommet des non-alignés, il estimera qu’il a permis d’établir une vision claire dans de nombreuses questions, notamment la crise économique et la manière avec laquelle il faut la traiter. Il rappellera que le président Bouteflika avait fait référence à la réforme de l’ONU, la lutte contre le terrorisme, le dialogue entre les religions et les civilisations, et l’appui à l’enracinement de la démocratie, qu’il a discuté avec ses pairs au cours de cette réunion. Au sujet du Moyen-Orient et la question palestinienne, Mourad Medelci affirmera que le fait qu’une résolution spéciale lui a été consacrée, montre que les deux tiers des pays de la planète en font une priorité, et pas seulement les pays arabes. Il précisera que le contexte actuel est favorable, particulièrement après le discours de Barack Obama insistant sur la solution à deux États. Le ministre reviendra sur la lutte contre le terrorisme pour souligner que “l’Algérie est disposée à éclaircir autant que possible la vision pour les autres pays, tout en poussant à la mise en place d’un front de combat de manière intelligente et totale ne s’appuyant pas uniquement sur l’usage de la force”.

Il y a lieu de noter que le chef de la diplomatie algérienne a mis l’accent sur le soutien clair des non-alignés à l’Iran dans sa volonté d’acquérir l’énergie nucléaire à des fins civiles, tout en indiquant que s’il y a d’autres objectifs inavoués, l’Algérie ne se sentira pas engagée, à l’instar des pays membres du mouvement, qui ont insisté sur la nature de l’usage qui doit en être fait. Enfin, Mourad Medelci expliquera que la récente visite du président Bouteflika n’entrait pas dans le cadre d’une quelconque tentative de renouer le dialogue à cause de la candidature de Mohamed Bedjaoui à la présidence de l’Unesco contre le candidat égyptien, car le dossier avait été réglé bien avant, mais fait partie de la concertation permanente entre Alger et Le Caire.

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Asharq Al-Awsat talks to Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci

Sharm el-Sheikh, July 19, 2009 (Asharq Al-Awsat) -- Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci described the relations between Algeria and Morocco as normal, pointing out that regular and continuing contacts take place between Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and King Muhammad VI. The most recent communication they had took place last week. In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, the Algerian foreign minister also spoke of combating terrorism, reform of the UN, results of the summit of the non-aligned movement and relations with Iran. The following is the full text of the interview:

Asharq Al-Awsat : What is your assessment of the results of the summit of the non-aligned movement held in Sharm el-Sheikh?

Mourad Medelci : The summit stood for international peace and justice; it has drawn a clear vision of issues of concern to the movement, especially the economic crisis and how to deal with it; reform of the UN, combating terrorism, interfaith and cultural dialogue, and promoting democracy. President Bouteflika put emphasis on all these issues during his discussions at the summit.

Asharq Al-Awsat : What about the situation of Palestine and the Middle East? Is the non-aligned movement in a position to play a role in this chronic issue?

Mourad Medelci : The summit has adopted a special declaration concerning Palestine. This means that the Palestine question is a central issue for two thirds of the world states; not only for the Arabs. The summit also endorsed the Arab peace initiative, the establishment of the Palestinian state, the right of the Palestinian refugees to return, Jerusalem, and the resumption of negotiations to discuss all of the six issues regarding the Palestinian problem.

Asharq Al-Awsat : But the peace process is at a standstill, what should be done to make it move?

Mourad Medelci : There is positive interest in the Palestinian case and the Middle East and the international climate is much better, especially after the U.S. President talked about the two-state solution. This vision gives the non-aligned movement a chance to implement this solution. We hope to solve the Palestinian problem and those of neighboring Arab countries through the Arab peace initiative, which has been accepted by all, except Israel, which remains hesitant because it does not want peace.

Asharq Al-Awsat : Did the non-aligned movement support the peaceful Iranian nuclear program?

Mourad Medelci : It did, and it did so surely and clearly, especially if we take into consideration its peaceful purposes. If it had other purposes in view, then neither Algeria, nor the non-aligned movement would have supported Iran. All supported Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

Asharq Al-Awsat : Did you meet with the Iranian foreign minister during the summit?

Mourad Medelci : We always meet, in Algeria, in Teheran and on many occasions to discuss issues of common interest.

Asharq Al-Awsat : Have you discussed the issue of terrorism from which Algeria is still suffering?

Mourad Medelci : Algeria has had a painful experience with terrorism and therefore it would welcome cooperation with other states wishing to deal with this issue. We give our expertise to others in this respect and we support combating terrorism, but in a clever and comprehensive manner, not just by the use of force.

Asharq Al-Awsat : Do you think that UN reform is necessary to achieve international peace and security?

Mourad Medelci : All states agree on this matter. The non-aligned movement wishes to have a representation on the Security Council that would give prominence to its importance, but achieving such a wish seems out of the question at present. It would be possible for the non-aligned movement, the Arabs, and African states working together, to achieve the UN reform that we want.

Asharq Al-Awsat : What do you think to the approach of the non-aligned movement towards Western Sahara that was expressed in the summit's final declaration?

Mourad Medelci : The final summit declaration clearly recognized the right of the Sahara people to self-determination, on the basis of UN recommendations, Security Council resolutions and the initiative of the UN Secretary General. Algeria is working towards a solution along these lines.

Asharq Al-Awsat : Is it not about time that Algeria and Morocco have permanent normal relations instead of their seasonal relations?

Mourad Medelci : We have normal relations with Morocco and there is no problem.

Asharq Al-Awsat : What then about normalization and opening the borders between the two countries?

Mourad Medelci : Borders do not prevent countries from having normal relations. The opening of borders needs security on both sides, but the Sahara issue has nothing to do with the borders.

Asharq Al-Awsat : Since the Arab summit was held in Algeria, there have been no warm friendly relations between the Moroccan king and President Bouteflika. Why is that?

Mourad Medelci : King Muhammad VI and President Bouteflika have met on many occasions outside Morocco and Algeria, and they frequently communicate by telephone. The latest communication they had was last week. The relations between the two countries are not bad; it is a relation of dialogue and understanding on issues of concern for both parties.

Asharq Al-Awsat : Was the purpose of President Bouteflika's visit to Cairo to remove the misunderstanding that took place because Algeria put forward a candidate for the post of UNESCO Secretary General to compete with the Egyptian minister Farooq Hosni?

Mourad Medelci : President Bouteflika's visit to Cairo was an extremely friendly visit, and so were his discussions with President Hosni Mubarak to whom he offered condolences for the death of his grandson. As for the issue of Farooq Hosni, it is an issue of the past. Algeria withdrew its candidate several weeks ago, in harmony with its position in support of the Egyptian candidate.