Catherine Sasman
13 November 2008
Windhoek — The Algerian Embassy celebrated its country's 54th anniversary of the outbreak of that country's national liberation struggle, which began on November 1, 1954.
The struggle, noted Algerian Ambassador to Namibia, Youcef Delileche, has shaped the people of Algeria's collective consciousness and is today apparent in its personality and culture.
Algeria was one of the first diplomatic missions to open in Namibia after 1990, and one of the African countries in support of SWAPO as a liberation movement during Namibia's anti-colonial struggle.
Today, the two countries share cordial relations and are considering ways to increase trade and cooperation.
Algeria's economic growth currently stands between five and seven percent per annum, and foreign direct investment into that country has shown significant growth.
Delileche said Algeria's foreign policy remains constructive towards the achievements of the African Union's goals to promote peace, stability, development and cooperation among African countries.
Algeria, he said, had been involved as a mediator in the longstanding dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea, as well as the conflict between the government of Mali and the Touareg rebellion.
He said it is in the same spirit that Algeria would be willing to help solve the issue of Western Sahara, which he said remains a question of "unfinished decolonisation".
"[It] would require the full implementation of the relevant United Nations resolutions related to the self-determination of Western Saharan people. In this context, Algeria has reiterated its readiness to positively contribute in promoting direct dialogue between the two parties of this conflict, the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front under the auspices of the United Nations," Delileche said.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lempy Lucas, said the Namibian Government firmly supports the people of Western Sahara in their struggle for self-determination within the context of the UN Settlement Plan, and called upon the UN and the international community at large to ensure self-determination of the Saharawi people "without any further delay".
Echoing Delileche, Lucas further called on the UN to fulfil its obligation towards Palestine in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Speaker of Parliament, Theo-Ben Gurirab, visited Algeria in July on his campaign for the Inter-Parliamentarian Union (IPU) position, which he eventually clinched in Geneva last month.
Through this visit to Algeria, a joint parliamentarian friendship group was formed between the two countries.
Foreign Minister Marco Hausiku also visited Algeria last month, and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on diplomatic consultations.
Within the framework of this MoU, the two countries will form a joint commission next year to confer economic content to the relationship.
The finalisation of a draft agreement on trade, an avoidance of double taxation and promotion, and the promotion of reciprocal protection of investment are in an advanced stage, said Delileche.
The Algerian Minister of Veterans, Mohamed Abbas, is expected to pay a visit to the Namibian Ministry of Veterans Affairs next week to sign a technical cooperation agreement with Namibia.
Namibia's education sector has also benefited through the bilateral relationship with Algeria.
Lucas said there are currently 46 Namibians studying there at various tertiary institutions.
"[Algeria] is greatly assisting Namibia to enhance its capacity building, which is crucial to our success in achieving the objectives of Vision 2030," Lucas said.
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