Algerian Press Service
October 22, 2014
Algeria Celebrates 20th Anniversary of NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue
Algiers: Algeria on Tuesday celebrated the 20th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)’s Mediterranean Dialogue in the presence of parliamentarians, representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Algiers and academics.
The celebration ceremony of the Dialogue, initiated in 1994, was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Algeria became a member of the Mediterranean Dialogue in March 2000.
This anniversary is an opportunity to assess of the achievements made by NATO and to examine the challenges and opportunities facing the NATO, said the Diplomatic Institute and International Relations (IDRI) and the Military Institute of Documentation, Evaluation and Prospect, organizers of the event.
“The Dialogue: Achievements and Prospects” and “the security challenges in the region” are the most important topics which will be discussed at this meeting.
NATO’s assistant general secretary for the political affairs and security policy Ambassador Thrasyvoulos Terry Stamatopoulos voiced, in a statement to the press that this meeting, “his recognition” to the “steadfast contribution” of Algeria within NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue.
“I recognize the very important role and the contribution of Algeria as part of the multilateral framework of the NATO Mediterranean Dialogue,” he added, while expressing the wish to further develop the NATO relations with Algeria.
He expressed his “deep satisfaction” with the recent conclusion of the first individual programme of partnership and cooperation (IPCP) between NATO and Algeria.
“This document is a strong signal of our joint determination to foster our partnership to hoist it to higher level,” he declared.
On that occasion, Stamatopoulos reaffirmed NATO attachment to the Mediterranean Dialogue and to the principles on which it is founded.
He stressed the “intense interest” of NATO to pursue the reinforcement of the political dialogue and the practical cooperation with its Mediterranean partners, including Algeria, to face the security challenges in the region.
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