algeria today issu 06- 2013 - embassy of algeria

EMBASSY OF THE PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ALGERIA

ALGERIA TODAY

JUNE 2013

PREDIDENTIAL ACTIVITIES Page 2

MINISTERIAL ACTIVITIES Page 4

PARLIAMENT ACTIVITIES 8

COUNCIL OF THE NATION Page 19

AMBASSADOR’S ACTIVITIES Page 20

COOPERATION Page 21

ART & CULTURE Page 25

SPORTS Page 27

2118 KALORAMA ROAD NW

WASHINGTON DC 20008

TEL: (202) 265-2800

FAX: (202) 986-5906

Website: algerianembassy.org

Email: [email protected]

June 2013 June 2013 ALGERIA TODAYALGERIA TODAY Page 2

PRESIDENTIAL ACTIVITIES

PRESIDENT BOUTEFLIKA MEETS WITH PRIME MINISTER SELLAL AND PNA'S

CHIEF OF STAFF GAÏD SALAH

On June 9, the president of the Republic, Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, met at his place of

convalescence in Paris with Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and the Chief of Staff of the

People's National Army, Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaïd Salah.

During his meeting with the president, the Prime minister submitted to the head of state a

"complete report on the general situation in the country and the activities of the government."

The head of state underscored "the need to closely follow implementation of ongoing

programs." On that occasion, he directed the Prime minister to "ensure that citizens' concerns

are efficiently addressed, particularly as people are getting ready for the holy month of

Ramadan and summer vacation."

The president of the Republic has also directed the Prime minister to "finalize draft legislation

for the 2013 Supplemental Finance Law, as well as all other pieces of draft legislation, which

the government has reviewed, in order to get them ready for adoption at the next Council of

Ministers."


HEALTH CONDITION OF PRESIDENT BOUTEFLIKA

The president of the Republic, Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, is undergoing in France

treatment and functional rehabilitation to "consolidate the favorable progress" of his

health condition, a health report issued on Tuesday, June 11 by his accompanying

physicians, Profs. Mohcène Sahraoui and Merzak Metref indicated.

"On April 27, 2013, the president of the Republic, Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika,

experienced a cerebral vascular accident (CVA). Initial investigations, conducted

following his admission to the "Dr. Mohamed-Seghir Nekkache" military hospital of

Aïn Naadja, in Algiers, revealed the ischemic nature of the accident without

consequences on vital functions," recalls the health report issued by the presidency of

the Republic.

"Based on those investigations, an appropriate treatment was implemented before his

transfer to the Val-de-Grâce Training Hospital of the Armed Forces in Paris for further

examination, following which his physicians recommended that he follow at the national

institution of "Les Invalides" a period of treatment and functional rehabilitation to

consolidate the favorable progress of his health condition," the same source said.


MINISTERIAL ACTIVITIES

PRIME MINISTER SELLAL

MR. SELLAL HOLDS TALKS WITH HIS TURKISH COUNTERPART TAYYIP ERDOGAN

Turkish Prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived on June 4 in Algeria for a two-day official visit,

heading a large ministerial and business delegation, and was hosted by Prime Minister Abdelmalek

Sellal, with whom he held discussions.

In remarks delivered on the occasion of the visit by his Turkish counterpart, Prime Minister Sellal said

Algeria is committed to boost concertation, political dialogue, and economic and cultural cooperation

with Turkey to levels expected by both countries.

On the same day, the Turkish prime minister delivered a speech before the Algerian Parliament and

expressed the wish for increased cooperation with Algeria in the security area. The next day, Mr.

Erdogan was awarded a Honoris Causa Doctorate by the Algiers-2 University.

On June 5, Prime Minister Sellal accompanied the Turkish prime minister and his delegation to Oran for

a visit to the Arzew petrochemical zone, located in the eastern part of the province, and the new steel

manufacturing plant in Bethioua, which was built by Tosyali Iron and Steel, a Turkish company

incorporated under Algerian law.

The two prime ministers also attended an Algerian-Turkish business forum aimed at exploring

partnership opportunities between the two countries and providing new impetus to their economic

cooperation, namely in the textile, automobile and agribusiness sectors.

In remarks he delivered on the occasion of a ribbon-cutting ceremony launching the new steel plant in

Bethioua, Mr. Erdogan said that Algeria, a country with many assets, is an example to be emulated. "Our

ambition, he said, is to use this country as the base and launching pad for a solid and strong partnership

with Africa."

Mr. Erdogan also said he intended to encourage increased circulation of persons between the two

countries through tourism and highlighted the history, friendship and amity shared by Algeria and

Turkey.


MR. SELLAL HOLDS TALKS WITH U.S. UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR

POLITICAL AFFAIRS

In her discussions with Prime minister Abdelmalek in Algiers, where she had arrived for a visit

as part of a tour involving several North African countries, U.S. Under Secretary of State for

Political Affairs Wendy Sherman underscored the need for Algeria and the United States to

strengthen their partnership in the security and economic areas.

The meeting also offered the two officials the opportunity to review the state of relations

between Algeria and the United States in all areas, including the political and economic levels.

According to the Prime minister's Office, the meeting was an occasion for "a fruitful exchange

of views on regional and international issues, including political and security issues."

PRIME MINISTER SELLAL HOSTS FORMER CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

On June 25, Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal hosted in

Algiers former California Governor Arnold

Schwarzenegger, president of the non-governmental

organization R20, who arrived for a three-day visit.

Their discussions essentially dealt with prospects for

cooperation between Algeria and that organization, which

strives to develop environmental protection programs in

different areas of the world.

Mr. Sellal also expressed his satisfaction with the

signature of the agreement whereby the province of Oran

has become R20-compliant as representative of Algeria

and member of the board of directors for North Africa

and the Mediterranean area.


MR. SELLAL HOSTS OMAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER

Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal hosted on June 19 in

Algiers Omani Minister for Foreign Affairs Youssef Ben

Aloui Ben Abdallah.

The meeting offered the two officials an opportunity to

review the state of political and economic relations between

the two countries and the ways and means to strengthen

bonds between the two brotherly peoples. It also allowed for

an assessment of the outcome of the meeting held by the

Algerian-Omani Joint Commission, which helped "further

consolidate and strengthen economic and social relations

between the Republic of Algeria and the Sultanate of Oman."

Prior to his meeting with Prime Minister Sellal, the head of Omani diplomacy had co-chaired

with his Algerian counterpart the proceedings of the 6th session of the Algerian-Omani Joint

Commission.

MR. SELLAL HOLDS TALKS WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF FRANCE'S ECONOMIC,

SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL

Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal met on June 3 in Algiers with Mr. Jean-Paul Delevoye,

Chairman of the French Economic, social and Environmental Council, who arrived in Algiers

for a working and friendship visit.

Talks between the two officials centered essentially on "cooperation between Algeria's National

Economic and Social Council (CNES) and its French counterpart."

They also discussed other issues related to the "socioeconomic development of the two

countries, prospects for increasing exchange spaces on issues of mutual interest and the means

involved in boosting them."


MR. SELLAL HOSTS THE PRESIDENT OF KUWAIT'S COUNCIL OF THE

NATION

On June 6, Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal hosted Mr. Ali Fahd Al-Rashed,

President of Kuwait's Council of the Nation, who arrived in Algeria for a working

and friendship visit, heading a parliamentary delegation.

The two sides reviewed existing cooperation between the parliaments of the two

countries and their roles and contributions in strengthening ties between the two

brotherly peoples.

They also examined "the state of bilateral relations, namely opportunities and

prospects for partnership development in various sectors of activity reflecting the

quality of political relations between the two sisterly countries."

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of

mutual interest, particularly in the Arab world and the Sahel, and have agreed to

maintain permanent and close concertation between their two countries.


PRIME MINISTER SELLAL HOSTS DELEGATION FROM THE FRENCH SENATE

Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal hosted on June 4 in Algiers a French senatorial

delegation headed by Mr. Jean-Pierre Chevènement.

The Prime minister and the French delegates underscored in their meeting "the

significant role played by members of Parliament in the concertation and multi-

sector cooperation between the two countries." They also discussed "the human

dimension of our bilateral relations and the ways and means to strengthen those

bonds to serve the two peoples."

MR. SELLAL HOSTS FRENCH MINISTER OF EDUCATION

On June 19, Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal hosted in Algiers French Minister

of Education Vincent Peillon, who had arrived in Algeria for a working visit.

Their discussions dealt with "cooperation in the areas of education and vocational

training between the two countries," said one source close to the Prime Minister's

Office.

The meeting was seized upon to assess both countries' pedagogic experience and

to lay the foundation for greater cooperation in dispensing more efficient

classroom experience.


PRIME MINISTER SELLAL ATTENDS OPENING CEREMONY OF MEETING ON

GLOBAL DIALOGUE FOR AN INTELLIGENT PARTNERSHIP IN TANZANIA

On June 28, Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal joined other delegates in attending the

opening ceremony being held in the Tanzanian capital of Dar es Salaam on global

dialogue for an intelligent partnership. Proceedings started later that day.

The ceremony was chaired by Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete in the

presence of a dozen heads of state and government from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.

Themed "Promoting Technology as Leverage for Socioeconomic Transformation in

Africa: The Intelligent Partnership Way", the meeting, the 23rd of the kind, was to last

three days.

The meeting came on the heels of three roundtables, including one attended by Mr.

Sellal who underscored on that occasion the "crucial importance" of investing in

knowledge and innovation in Africa as a way of solving once for all the conflicts-

terrorism scourge afflicting the Continent.

The Algerian Prime minister, who was representing the president of the Republic, Mr.

Abdelaziz Bouteflika, at the meeting, also stressed the significance for African youth to

"turn to media sources and social networks to quench their thirst for knowledge and

technological progress and to share their experiences and know-how."

On the margins of the conference, Mr. Sellal met with Tanzanian President Jakaya

Mrisho Kikwete and his Tanzanian counterpart, Mr. Najib Mohamed.


FOREIGN MINISTER MEDELCI

MR. MEDELCI MEETS FOR TALKS WITH EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMED

MORSI

Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci was hosted on June 6 in Cairo by President Mohamed Morsi

of Egypt, with whom he discussed bilateral issues and the outcome of the proceedings of the

Arab ministerial meeting on the Syrian crisis.

During their meeting, the two sides reviewed the privileged bilateral relations between Algeria

and Egypt and underlined their shared commitment to strengthen them in various areas.

The two sides also expressed their satisfaction with the meeting to be held in Algiers at the end

of June by the Algerian-Egyptian follow-up committee. That meeting will be followed by a

meeting in Cairo by the High Joint Commission, which will be co-chaired by the two countries'

heads of government.

The talks between Foreign minister Medelci and President Morsi dealt as well with the outcome

of the ministerial meeting on Syria convened by the Arab League, which Mr. Medelci attended.

In that regard, Algeria role to get the Syrian sides together around a negotiating table with the

objective of seeking a political solution to the Syrian crisis as part of preparations for the

international conference on Syria was hailed at the meeting.


MR. MEDELCI HOLDS TALKS WITH U.S. UNDER SECRETARY OF

STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS WENDY SHERMAN

Minister for Foreign Affairs Mourad Medelci met on June 16 in Algiers for talks

with U.S. Under secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman who was

in Algeria as part of a tour including several North African countries.

After her meeting, Mrs. Sherman declared that, "The United States and Algeria

work very closely on security, economic and social development, democracy and

good governance at the bilateral and international levels."

"We have reviewed several issues connected with the good and strong relations

between Algeria and the United States and we have talked about what we can do

together at the regional and international levels," she added.


MR. MEDELCI TRAVELS TO RUSSIA FOR A WORKING VISIT

At the invitation of his Russian counterpart, Mr. Serguei Lavrov, Minister for Foreign

Affairs Mourad Medelci travelled to Russia for a two-day working visit starting on June

24.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Medelci said his talks with Mr. Lavrov reflected the

evolution of Algerian-Russian cooperation in a wide array of sectors included in the

Declaration of Strategic Partnership signed in 2001 between the two countries and noted

that Algerian-Russian bilateral relations have experienced an "evolution" in the areas of

security, defense, access to new technologies, and institutional cooperation.

The head of Algerian diplomacy also noted the revitalization of Algerian-Russian

cooperation and expressed the wish for the opening of a Russian cultural center in

Algiers and, "why not", an Algerian cultural center in Moscow.

Mr. Medelci also said that international issues on the agenda of his discussions with Mr.

Lavrov included the issue of Western Sahara, the situation prevailing in the Sahel, and

the Syrian crisis.

In that respect, he stressed the closeness of both countries' views on the issue, saying

that they are both "deeply attached to international legality and respects for human

rights."


HEAD OF ALGERIAN DIPLOMACY HOSTS EGYPTIAN COUNTERPART

Minister for Foreign Affairs Mourad Medelci hosted on June 27 in Algiers Egyptian Minister

for Foreign Affairs Mohamed Kamel Amr who arrived in Algiers for a three-day visit as part of

the proceedings held by the Algerian-Egyptian follow-up committee in preparation for the 7th

session of the High Joint Commission.

In remarks made after the end of the follow-up committee's meeting, Mr. Medelci highlighted

the "great potentialities" held by the two countries and likely to boost their strategic cooperation

in various areas.

In that context, he said the meeting provided an "opportunity" to deepen concertation and

exchange of views on several issues relating to bilateral, regional and international issues, as

well as on issues of mutual interest.

The meeting also included an assessment of bilateral cooperation since the previous session of

the High Joint Commission held in 2008 in Algiers.

Mr. Amr, for his part, declared that relations between Algeria and Egypt are "complementary

and not competitive" and added that their economies are expected to grow to complement one

another.

Moreover, he stressed the "political commitment" of Egyptian leadership to advance

cooperation between Algeria and their country. That cooperation, he said, does not serve the

interests of the two states only, but rather those of the whole Arab and African region."


MR. MEDELCI HOSTS HIS SPANISH COUNTERPART

Minister for Foreign Affairs Mourad Medelci

hosted for talks on June 18 in Algiers his

Spanish counterpart, Mr. José Manuel Garci-

Margallo, who arrived in Algeria for a visit

intended to strengthen political dialogue and

concertation between Algeria and Spain.

Speaking after their meeting, Mr. Medelci

declared that the Algerian-Spanish agreement

on easing of visa granting procedures, signed

last January, will come into force within the next few weeks and explained that, "The

agreement has already been approved by the Spanish government. On the Algerian side, the

ratification process will be implemented quickly and within a few weeks we could have a fully

enforceable agreement."

Furthermore, he said, the meeting was also an opportunity for him and the Spanish foreign

minister to discuss Algerian-Spanish bilateral relations, focusing on "priority" areas such as

investment and partnership, and current international issues as well.

MR. MEDELCI HOSTS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT'S

FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE

On June 3, Minister for Foreign Affairs met with a delegation from the British Parliament's

Foreign Relations Committee headed by committee president Richard Ottoway.

After their meeting, Mr. Ottoway termed his discussions with Mr. Medelci "interesting" and

indicated that the two sides had also examined economic and security issues as well as the

challenges facing the two countries.

"We have promised ourselves that we will work together to try to move ahead," he said.


MR. MEDELCI HOLDS TALKS WITH EUROPEAN COUNCIL'S PARLIAMENTARY

ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT

During a visit aimed at exploring prospects for relations between Algeria and his institution, the

president of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, Mr. Jean-Claude Mignon,

declared after his meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Mourad Medelci that, "Algeria is a

major country that plays an excessively significant role in the region."

"My visit aims at exploring in a concrete and constructive manner the relations that we can have

with Algeria," said Mr. Mignon, before recalling that the Council of Europe is a forum for

discussions and an institution established in 1949 whose main objective is to defend human

rights and upholding of the rule of law.

MR. MEDELCI MEETS WITH EU SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE SAHEL

Speaking to the media after a meeting with Algerian Foreign Minister

Mourad Medelci, the European Union's Special Envoy for the Sahel

Michel Reveyrand-de-Menthon declared on June 23 in Algiers that,

"Algeria has always been a major partner of Mali and has always

supported that country as it strove to find a resolution to its crisis."

He said his talks with the head of Algerian diplomacy involved "the

manner in which the international community is going to help the next

elected president and the Malian shareholders to take full charge of the

process."

Talks between the two sides also covered the situation in the region "in all its aspects" and the

need to work within the framework of "renewed partnerships" to ensure

security in the region.


MR. MEDELCI CHAIRS MINISTERIAL MEETING OF COUNTRIES OF

THE SAHEL REGION

A ministerial meeting of the countries of the Sahel region (Algeria, Mauritania,

Mali and Niger) was convened on June 28 in Algiers to assess the situation in the

region and namely in Mali.

Chaired by Minister for Foreign Affairs Mourad Medelci, the meeting included

the foreign ministers of the Sahel region countries and representatives from three

guest countries (Libya, Chad, and Nigeria) who attended the meeting as

observers.

In remarks made at the opening of the meeting, Mr. Medelci said the meeting was

part of the framework of "concertation, dialogue and joint action between the

countries of the region."

He also pointed out that development in those countries, and particularly Mali,

"remains exposed to the threat of terrorism and transnational organized crime,

requiring therefore a sustained and continuous fight against these phenomena."

Pursuing, the head of Algerian diplomacy called solidarity with Mali "a duty" and

said that the countries of the Sahel region "will continue to support it until

definitive stabilization of that country and full restoration of security in the

region."


STATE SECRETARY FOR NATIONALS RESIDING ABROAD SAHLI

HOLDS TALKS WITH BRITISH IMMIGRATION MINISTER

State Secretary for Nationals Residing Abroad Belkacem Sahli met on June 26 in

Algiers with British Minister of Immigration Mark Harper who arrived in Algeria

for a working visit.

Their initially one-on-one meeting was later extended to include their respective

delegations and covered "human and consular relations" between the two

countries.

On the same occasion, experts from both countries undertook an assessment of

the informal mechanism on human and consular relations established in Nov.

2012 during Mr. Sahli's London visit and reviewed the ways and means to

facilitate visa delivery procedures for citizens of both countries.


PARLIAMENTARY ACTIVITIES

THE PEOPLE'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

SPEAKER OULD KHELIFA HOSTS THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF

EUROPE'S PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

The Speaker of the People's National Assembly, Mr. Mohamed Larbi Ould Khelifa,

hosted on June 17 Mr. Jean-Claude Mignon, president of the Council of Europe's

Parliamentary Assembly (PACE).

During their meeting, Mr. Mignon expressed "the willingness to strengthen cooperation

relations with Algeria," and underscored the prospects for the two sides, all the more

that his institution includes 47 EU countries or countries that have applied for

membership.

For his part, Mr. Ould Khelifa spoke of the PNA's "willingness" to develop relations of

cooperation with the PACE, namely through delegation visits.

Furthermore, he called on the PACE to "urge the governments of its Member Countries

to associate themselves to the effort aimed at enabling the Sahrawi people to exercise

their right to self-determination in conformity with international legality decisions" and

"to contribute to the settlement of conflicts so as to ensure security and stability, both

essential factors to development, for the concerned countries."

Moreover, the PNA's Speaker reiterated Algeria's rejection of any foreign interference in

state affairs and its support for the right of peoples to choose the mode of governance

that is acceptable to them."


THE COUNCIL OF THE NATION

MR. BENSALAH HOSTS THE SPEAKER OF MALTA'S HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES

The president of the Council of the Nation, Mr. Abdelkader Bensalah, hosted on

June 11 in Algiers Mr. Angelo Farrugia, Speaker of Malta's House of

Representatives.

The audience provided an opportunity for the two officials to review Algerian-

Maltese relations, which enjoy a long history and date back to the struggle by

both peoples for independence from France and England, respectively.

The two sides examined various areas of economic and trade cooperation

expected to open up major vistas for stronger bilateral cooperation and to raise

relations to the highest levels as fulfillment of the aspirations of the two peoples

and at the service of development, stability and peace.


ACTIVITIES BY AMBASSADOR BAALI

AMBASSADOR ABDALLAH BAALI MET WITH CONGRESSMAN

BILLY LONG

On June 19th, 2013, Ambassador Abdallah Baali met with Congressman Billy

Long (R- Missouri).

The Ambassador briefed the Congressman on the progress achieved by Algeria in

various areas as well as the relations between Algeria and the United States of

America.


COOPERATION

ALGERIA-TURKEY: ALGERIAN-TURKISH BUSINESS FORUM

OPENED

An Algerian-Turkish business forum aimed at consolidating economic relations in

various sectors between Algeria and Turkey was launched on June 4 in Algiers in

the presence of Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and his Turkish

counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The forum, whose membership includes over 200 Turkish enterprises, is an

opportunity to explore opportunities for partnerships between the business

communities of the two countries.

Sectors represented at the event included the sectors of Construction-Public

Works-Housing, Energy, Textile Industry, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Automobile,

and Chemical Industry.

Algeria and Turkey already enjoy partnership ties in the sectors of textiles and

steel industries, namely.

The number of Turkish economic operators active in Algeria rose from 204 in

2006 to 619 in May 2013, representing 6.2% of foreign businesses, according to

the National Council of Business Registry (CNRC).


ALGERIA-UNITED STATES-ENVIRONMENT: AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN

ALGERIA AND R20 ON OPENING REPRESENTATION IN ORAN

Algeria and R20, an American non-governmental organization, signed an

agreement on June 25 in Algiers for the opening in the city of Oran an R20

regional office covering the Mediterranean Basin region.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal

by Minister of Land Planning, Environment and the City Amara Benyounès and

R20 President and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The non-governmental organization R20 (Regions of Climate Action) was

founded in 2010 by Mr. Schwarzenegger with the support of the United Nations.

R20 is a coalition of sub-national governments, private corporations, international

organizations, NGOs and academic and financial institutions.

Its mission is to support implementation of low carbon emission projects and to

disseminate best practices and policies in the area of renewable energy to foster

development of a green economy.


ALGERIA-OMAN: TWO MOUS SIGNED

Algeria and the Sultanate of Oman signed on June 19 two memorandums of understanding

(MOU) on mutual suppression of visas for holders of diplomatic and service passports and on

technical education and vocational training.

The two documents were signed by Minister for Foreign Affairs Mourad Medelci and his

Omani counterpart Youssef Ben Alaoui at the end of the proceedings of the 6th session of the

Algerian-Omani Joint Commission.

ALGERIA-FRANCE:

ACTION PROGRAM IN EDUCATION SIGNED

Algeria and France have signed on June 19 an action program for cooperation in the education

sector as part of the partnership between the two countries for 2013-2017.

The document was signed by Minister of National Education Abdellatif Baba-Ahmed and his

French counterpart Vincent Peillon after a meeting at the ministry of Education.

The action program is part of the Algerian-French partnership framework document defining

the major areas of focus of the bilateral relation for the next four years in the education sector.

They include continued implemented of the national capacity-building process involving

training of educators, namely teachers of French language and mathematics, in primary and

middle schools.

Another area of focus deals with strengthening professional skills of secondary school teachers

in didactics in humanities, experimental and exact sciences, among others.

The program also calls for Algeria's participation in teaching the Arabic language in French

schools.


COOPERATION PROTOCOL ON DIPLOMATIC TRAINING EXCHANGE SIGNED

Algeria and France have signed on June 30 in Algiers a cooperation protocol on

exchange of training for diplomats.

The protocol was signed by Mohamed Abdelaziz Bouguetaia, director of the

Institute of Diplomacy and International Relations (IDRI), and Natalie Loiseau,

director of the National School of Administration (ENA) in Paris. The signature

was attended by Minister for Foreign Affairs Mourad Medelci and France's

Minister of State Reform, Decentralization, and Civil Service Marylise

Lebranchu.

"This protocol covers the exchange of training for diplomats who will get training

prior to selecting their area of major professional focus," Mrs. Lebranchu told

reporters after a meeting with Mr. Medelci.


ARTS & CULTURE

PHOTO EXHIBIT: INTIMATE AND NOSTALGIC TAKE ON THE CITY OF

ALGIERS

City of contrasts and a source of infinite

inspirations, Algiers was the subject of an

exhibit by two photographers, Abed Abidat of

Algeria and Maud Grübel of Germany, who

showed their work at the Diocesan Center in

the Glycines area of Algiers.

Historic and memorial symbol of the Algerian

capital, the Casbah inspired Abed Abidat who

"tells" that story through some forty

photographs taken in 2012, half of which

were exhibited on the theme of "I will go see

the Casbah" - a set of life sequences, city life

moments and instants, expressions, symbolic

places, and others.

Twenty-five portraits and twenty landscapes compose the exhibit, which is only the

preamble to a more ambitious project intended to make a "memorial contribution" on

our contemporary history, said the artist whose "Images Plurielles", a testimonial

photographic book on the massacres of Algerian civilians by colonial forces in May 8,

1945, was released in 2010 by a Marseille, France, publisher.

Abed Abidat, who says that he prefers black-and-white photography because it is more

"expressive", has no intention of stopping his explorations of arcane and surprising

individuals and moments that the city is so full of.

He is currently planning a more ambitious roving exhibit, which would travel to several

regions of Algeria, and has another photo project coming out soon and published in

collaboration with Barzakh Editions in Algiers.

Born in France, Abed Abidat went all out for his passion for the camera and signed up

with the Photography Department at the University of Provence in Aubagne, France. He

has published several sets, including "Chibanis, Chibanias - Portraits d'une génération

sans histoire" (Pops and Mas - Portraits of a no-problem generation) devoted to the first

generation of Algerian immigrants in France.


"ISLAM ET IMMIGRATION": LUCID ANALYSIS OF WHAT'S AT STAKE IN THE

IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE IN FRANCE

"Islam et Immigration" is the title of the most recent of

the Algerian essayist and novelist Abdelkader Benarab's

books published by L'Harmattan Editions. In this book,

the author looks with lucidity at the daily lives of the

immigrant population, mostly Muslim, in France and

analyzes what is at stake for them culturally and

politically in public life in France.

With a foreword written by Paul Balta, former Algiers

correspondent for the French daily Le Monde and

specialist of the Arab and Muslim worlds, the book is a

collection of various contributions published by the

author between 1991 and 2012 in magazines and daily

newspapers or presented at colloquiums and conferences.

In it, the author puts under a microscope the multitude of

travails facing immigrants in France.

In this 12-chapter book, the author underscores the

immigrants' historical and linguistic heritage, which sets

apart and ex-communicates them from any societal

endeavor, confining them in the bitterness of an environment which rejects them on first

contact.

Abdelkader Benarab decries what he calls a "decoy" brandished at election time by French

authorities, "equally from the left and from the right", who attempt through unfulfilled

promises to gain the favors of "marginalized immigrants ghettoized in suburban housing

projects and ready to face off authorities perceived as the enemy and held responsible for

their confinement in a ghetto."

Academic, researcher, essayist and novelist, Abdelkader Benarab is the author of several

books on the history, sociology and literature of the Maghreb and Africa.

He contributed to the book "Maghrébins: De 1960 à nos jours, la naissance d'une

communauté" published by Privat Editions (2004) and awarded the "Sélection Amitié

franco-arabe prize.

His latest book is "Frantz Fanon, l'homme des ruptures". It was published by Alfabarre

Editions (2010) and was translated in Arabic, English, and Spanish.


SPORTS

KARATE: ABDELKADER ADJAL EARNS HIS 8TH DEGREE BLACK BELT

(HACHIDAN)

Head instructor Abdelkader Adjal has won his eighth degree black belt in Shotokan

karate. He earned his degree at Dan-Exam held at the 47th Annual Master Camp &

International Goodwill Tournament held June 7-14 at Camp Green Lane, PA, by the

International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF).

Head instructor with ISKF, Abdelkader Adjal became Hachidan (8th Dan) on June 11 at

Camp Green Lane, near Philadelphia, PA.

Camp Green Lane has 16 instructors headed by Grand Master Okazaki Chihan (10th

Dan).

Algeria took part in the competition, lining up four athletes, in addition to the head

instructors of the English and Belgian teams, who are Algerian.

The Master Camp is the only Shotokan karate training camp including some of the

greatest masters in the world, including Masters Yutaka Yaguchi (ISKF/USA), Hideo

Ochi (JKA/Germany), Masaru Miura (SKII/Europe) and Shunsuke Takahashi (TSKF/

Australia and New Zealand), in addition to Master Okazaki Chihan.


BOXING: HISTORIC PERFORMANCE FOR THE ALGERIAN SELECTION WITH 5

GOLD MEDALS

Algeria's Boxing team (over 18) won five Gold medals at the XVII Mediterranean

Games (June 20-30) held in Mersin, Turkey. The Boxing competition was held at

"Tartus" Hall on June 26 and saw the crowning of the Algerian squad with its

highest number of Gold medals since the 1967 Tunisia Mediterranean Games.

The historic performance by Algeria's team included as icing on the cake its first

place on the general team ranking: Algeria won five Gold medals and one

Bronze), placing ahead of Italy (2 Gold, 1 Silver, and 4 Bronze) and host country

Turkey (1 Gold, 3 Silver and 4 Bronze).

The Gold medal winners on the Algerian boxers were Mohamed Flissi (49 kg),

Réda Benbaaziz (56 kg), Abdelkader Chadi (64 kg), Lyès Abbadi (69 kg), and

Abdelhafid Benchabla (81 kg), and Mohamed Amine Ouadahi (60 kg) won

Bronze.

algeria today issu 06- 2013 - embassy of algeria

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