The President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, chaired today, Monday in Algiers, the opening ceremony of the Conference of Heads of Diplomatic and Consular Missions, and delivered a speech on the occasion.
Here is the full text of his speech:
“In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful and peace and blessings be upon his Messengers,
Honorable heads of national institutions and bodies,
Mr. Speaker of the Council of the Nation,
Mr. President of the Constitutional Council,
Mr. Prime Minister,
Lieutenant-General, Chief of Staff of the People’s National Army,
Ladies and gentlemen, heads of diplomatic and consular missions,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Peace and blessings of Allah be upon you.
At the outset of my speech, I would like to point out the appropriate timing for the holding of this meeting. The blessed month of November represents a reference for the Algerian diplomacy, whose constitutive document was enshrined in the Declaration of the 1st of November 1954. That diplomacy that made a decisive contribution during the national liberation era, alongside the National Liberation Army and in the post-independence era, which allowed the establishment of the state and the overcoming of many challenges and difficulties.
During this path led by successive generations of militant diplomats, the most important principles of our foreign policy have taken shape, including backing the right of peoples to self-determination, non-interference in the internal affairs of countries, settling conflicts by peaceful means, and strengthening the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in addition to the need to establish balanced, fair and impartial international relations.
Today, you men and women of diplomacy have a great responsibility to revive this precious historical legacy, in order to strengthen the role of Algerian diplomacy in defending the higher interests of the nation, preserving its national security and the sovereignty of its decision, and building the new Algeria, which reflects the civilized aspirations of the Algerian people.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The international system has witnessed, in recent times, unprecedented turmoil, as a result of a series of factors and phenomena, and the emergence of many new actors, requiring a continuous adaptation of the tasks of Algerian diplomacy, and the areas of its spread, in respect of the principles and constant values of our foreign policy.
On the other hand, the multilateral system, whose essence is based on promoting collective solutions to common challenges, has shown its limits in the face of the Covid-19 epidemic, highlighting the lack of readiness of the international community for collective action and the unfortunate tendency to unilateralism in shaping the post-pandemic world.
In our geographical environment, the challenges besetting us are more serious, in light of the multi-dimensional crises that our region is witnessing, as well as the hotbeds of tension in many neighboring countries, along our border line, especially in Western Sahara, with the resumption of military confrontations between the Polisario Front and the Moroccan occupation forces in addition to the Libyan crisis, which continues to witness tensions due to multiple foreign interventions, as well as the situation prevailing in the Sahel region under the influence of many factors related to multifaceted conflicts and the spread of the terrorist threat and organized crime of all kinds.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our interpretation of the international context with which our diplomacy interacts will not be complete without tackling the threats that beset Algeria directly, and aim to weaken it from within, using what is known as the “fourth generation war” that is being waged against our country as part of a broader scheme targeting Africa and the Middle East.
In this context and the repercussions arising from it, you are called upon, more than ever before, to show the same spirit of commitment and sacrifice that characterized your predecessors, to preserve Algeria’s higher interests, and to respond firmly to hostile maneuvers targeting our national security.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On the global level, it remains necessary to take proactive measures, in order to consolidate Algeria’s role as an influential actor, contributing seriously to confronting international challenges, by putting forward ideas and initiatives that would enhance multilateral action.
In the context of the foregoing, priority should be given to Algeria’s future membership in the United Nations Security Council, during the 2024-2025 period, to contribute to efforts aimed at maintaining international peace and security.
We should also work in cooperation with countries that share our views and positions to strengthen the role of the United Nations, to bring it to assume the responsibilities entrusted to it, especially towards the Palestinian and Saharaoui peoples.
At the continental level, it is necessary to carry on efforts to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and friendship with African countries, which reflect the strategic, geographical, and cultural depth of our country.
In this context, strengthening the African Union to protect it from malicious attempts targeting its unity and central role, will remain among the priorities of our diplomatic work.
With the same determination, we should continue efforts to promote joint Arab action, by creating the necessary conditions for the success of the upcoming Arab summit, which will be held, God willing, in Algeria. This summit should constitute a valuable opportunity to renew the collective commitment to support the Palestinian cause, by reaffirming the adherence of all Member States to the Arab Peace Initiative. We must also seize this opportunity to study the reform file of the Arab League, with the aim of improving its performance, in the context of a new vision for joint Arab action.
The Algerian diplomacy is also called upon to intensify its efforts in order to achieve security and stability at the regional level, especially by participating in resolving the Libyan crisis and promoting stability in the Sahel region.
As for partnerships, we must work in a rational and balanced way to develop political, economic and trade relations with our main partners in Europe, North America and Asia.
From now on, everyone must work to achieve an approach that preserves the Algerian industrial fabric, protects the national product, and provides outlets for our exporters abroad. Therefore, it is necessary to work on establishing more balanced relations, with all our partners, especially with the European Union.
In its bilateral relations with its European partners, Algeria will not tolerate any interference in its internal affairs and will always be ready to establish relations based on mutual respect and full commitment to the principle of sovereign equality between states.
Meanwhile, with regard to our relations with Russia, the United States and China, our diplomatic apparatus must endeavor to further strengthen them, especially at the economic level, and our ambassadors must work to strengthen our relations with other countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands, to restore communication at all levels and broaden cooperation relations with these countries.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to focus on two main topics, because of their great strategic importance, our national community abroad and economic diplomacy.
Regarding the national community abroad, it is your responsibility to create methods and approaches to ensure an actual and practical translation, of the special importance I personally attach to this subject.
What is required of you is not only to pay attention to the concerns and respond to the needs of our community, but also to strengthen its ties with the homeland, and to involve its members in the process of our country’s economic and social development, as well as in efforts to enhance Algeria’s position and influence on the international arena.
Our community, located all over the world, has the competencies and skills that enable it to provide a qualitative added value to the development efforts in our country. It is driven by a strong desire and great will to do so. It only asks to be involved in this collective effort, through innovative entrepreneurship, exchange of experiences and training. Therefore, it is necessary to put in place appropriate frameworks and mechanisms to oversee this process, and to enable members of our community who have enormous potential to make their contributions.
You must communicate with the community, by setting hotlines, and opening continuous direct or electronic communication channels.
As for economic diplomacy, our diplomats are invited today, to be at the forefront of national efforts aimed at enhancing Algeria’s attractiveness towards foreign companies, and supporting national companies to access global markets, through surveys, studies of market and consumption patterns and identifying opportunities for Algerian national products.
In conclusion, I assure that diplomatic work should constitute an extension and tributary of the efforts and endeavor of the state in all fields, and therefore, it is your responsibility to be constantly guided by the national agenda within the framework of your efforts and daily work, for the supreme interest of the country, its reputation and its position and the dignity of our citizens abroad will always remain above any other consideration.
I wish you full success in your tasks.
Peace and blessings of Allah be upon you.
