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Relations between Algeria and the United States stood out during the year 2011, in evidence of a major qualitative step forward in the excellent balance in the relations between the two countries. This dynamic of reconciliation and building increasing bilateral ties, which develop from one year to another, was confirmed by more frequent visits and regular senior U.S. officials to Algeria, reports El Moudjahid.
"The relations are becoming closer and stronger, not only bilaterally on political, economic, military and security matters but they also have expanded the dialogue on regional and international issues," Algeria's ambassador to Washington, Mr. Abdallah Baali said to APS. Receiving last May in Washingtonl, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mourad Medelci, the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, showed clearly the great momentum in the reports, saying that the visit of the Chief Algerian of diplomacy falls "in the name of a very important relationship that the United States has with Algeria." On this occasion, she wanted to testify to the gratitude of the world's leading power vis-à-vis Algeria: "The United States is grateful for the excellent cooperation of Algeria in the fight against the terrorism. " Moreover, in the wake of deep relationships between the two countries, particularly in terms of security cooperation, U.S. President Barack Obama in January sent his senior advisor for homeland security and counterterrorism, John Brennan, to review the state of bilateral relations and explore ways and means to further consolidate.
Through his adviser in the White House, President Obama expressed to President Abdelaziz Bouteflika not only his commitment to "build strong relations between the two countries" but also "his appreciation for the efforts and cooperation of Algeria "in the fight against terrorism, which is seen as a key partner in the region of North Africa. The arrival of Mr. Brennan in Algeria was followed by those of other senior officials. To ensure more cohesion in the partnership against terrorism, the Algiers conference on the fight against terrorism in the core countries (Algeria, Mauritania, Niger and Mali) was followed by multilateral discussions that had gathered together in Washington representatives of four countries and senior U.S. officials as the White House, the State Department and the Pentagon. The contribution of Algeria to the global fight against terrorism was, moreover, strengthened through its active participation in the launch in September in New York of, the Global Forum against terrorism (GCTF) initiated by the States United and Algeria is a founding member.
The United States, the first customer of Algeria
In the economic sphere, the United States continues to hold the rank of first customer of Algeria as classified according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, as among the top 20 countries with a trade surplus with the United States. However, the economic partnership remains virtually confined to the hydrocarbon sector, despite the existing potential and comparative advantages of Algeria. To breathe new life into the partnership, visits of delegations of American businessmen have continued this year. In this context, an Algerian-American meeting on the pharmaceutical industry was held in Algiers, after which a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of biotechnology and the production of medicines was signed. The view of U.S. laboratories who are signatories to this document and are leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, is that that Algeria has become the center of excellence and a destination for Africa and Middle East in terms of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical research. This mega project in Algeria should rank third after Singapore for Asia and Ireland for Europe says El Moudjahid.
Two other U.S. economic missions in Algeria are already planned for 2012, one of which will consist mainly of companies operating in the sectors of agriculture, hydraulics and construction. Since the announcement of the lifting of the state of emergency in Algeria in February, President Obama hailed the measure by reiterating that "the United States is determined to continue cooperation with the Algerian government that works to meet the needs of all Algerians. " In its analysis, the U.S. Congress quickly noted the distinction between the nature of protest movements who spoke in Algeria earlier this year and those of other Arab countries that have experienced popular uprisings devoting a total break with the plan in place. At a hearing on Algeria in the United States Senate, the chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East of the Upper House of Congress, Robert Casey clearly observed that the movement of events in Algeria "was, far more limited compared to other countries in the region "because he believes that" the claims are more related to economic and social policy. " Responding to sweeping reforms announced by President Bouteflika in his speech of April 15, the State Department called this approach " an important step" and "large scale." El Moudjahid concludes.
The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the Algerian economy, accounting for roughly 60% of budget revenues, nearly 30% of GDP, and over 97% of export earnings. Algeria is the fourth-largest crude oil producer in Africa. U.S. companies have played a major role in developing Algeria's oil and gas sector; of the $5.3 billion (on a historical-cost basis, according to statistics gathered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis) of U.S. investment in Algeria the vast bulk is in the hydrocarbon sector.Major American hydrocarbon exploration and services have long had a presence in Algeria.
In the regional security situation in th Sahel following the change of regime in Libya and the conflict which placed Algeria in a difficult position as it had an initially difficult relationship with The National Transitional Council in Libya.. Algeria has been actively promoting itself as the leader in the fight against terrorism in the region and the US has been supportive of this. With its long border with Libya and its proximity to Niger and Mali it is centrally placed to take on this role and cooperates closely with the US Africom comand.
"The relations are becoming closer and stronger, not only bilaterally on political, economic, military and security matters but they also have expanded the dialogue on regional and international issues," Algeria's ambassador to Washington, Mr. Abdallah Baali said to APS. Receiving last May in Washingtonl, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mourad Medelci, the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, showed clearly the great momentum in the reports, saying that the visit of the Chief Algerian of diplomacy falls "in the name of a very important relationship that the United States has with Algeria." On this occasion, she wanted to testify to the gratitude of the world's leading power vis-à-vis Algeria: "The United States is grateful for the excellent cooperation of Algeria in the fight against the terrorism. " Moreover, in the wake of deep relationships between the two countries, particularly in terms of security cooperation, U.S. President Barack Obama in January sent his senior advisor for homeland security and counterterrorism, John Brennan, to review the state of bilateral relations and explore ways and means to further consolidate.
Through his adviser in the White House, President Obama expressed to President Abdelaziz Bouteflika not only his commitment to "build strong relations between the two countries" but also "his appreciation for the efforts and cooperation of Algeria "in the fight against terrorism, which is seen as a key partner in the region of North Africa. The arrival of Mr. Brennan in Algeria was followed by those of other senior officials. To ensure more cohesion in the partnership against terrorism, the Algiers conference on the fight against terrorism in the core countries (Algeria, Mauritania, Niger and Mali) was followed by multilateral discussions that had gathered together in Washington representatives of four countries and senior U.S. officials as the White House, the State Department and the Pentagon. The contribution of Algeria to the global fight against terrorism was, moreover, strengthened through its active participation in the launch in September in New York of, the Global Forum against terrorism (GCTF) initiated by the States United and Algeria is a founding member.
The United States, the first customer of Algeria
In the economic sphere, the United States continues to hold the rank of first customer of Algeria as classified according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, as among the top 20 countries with a trade surplus with the United States. However, the economic partnership remains virtually confined to the hydrocarbon sector, despite the existing potential and comparative advantages of Algeria. To breathe new life into the partnership, visits of delegations of American businessmen have continued this year. In this context, an Algerian-American meeting on the pharmaceutical industry was held in Algiers, after which a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of biotechnology and the production of medicines was signed. The view of U.S. laboratories who are signatories to this document and are leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, is that that Algeria has become the center of excellence and a destination for Africa and Middle East in terms of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical research. This mega project in Algeria should rank third after Singapore for Asia and Ireland for Europe says El Moudjahid.
Two other U.S. economic missions in Algeria are already planned for 2012, one of which will consist mainly of companies operating in the sectors of agriculture, hydraulics and construction. Since the announcement of the lifting of the state of emergency in Algeria in February, President Obama hailed the measure by reiterating that "the United States is determined to continue cooperation with the Algerian government that works to meet the needs of all Algerians. " In its analysis, the U.S. Congress quickly noted the distinction between the nature of protest movements who spoke in Algeria earlier this year and those of other Arab countries that have experienced popular uprisings devoting a total break with the plan in place. At a hearing on Algeria in the United States Senate, the chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East of the Upper House of Congress, Robert Casey clearly observed that the movement of events in Algeria "was, far more limited compared to other countries in the region "because he believes that" the claims are more related to economic and social policy. " Responding to sweeping reforms announced by President Bouteflika in his speech of April 15, the State Department called this approach " an important step" and "large scale." El Moudjahid concludes.
The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the Algerian economy, accounting for roughly 60% of budget revenues, nearly 30% of GDP, and over 97% of export earnings. Algeria is the fourth-largest crude oil producer in Africa. U.S. companies have played a major role in developing Algeria's oil and gas sector; of the $5.3 billion (on a historical-cost basis, according to statistics gathered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis) of U.S. investment in Algeria the vast bulk is in the hydrocarbon sector.Major American hydrocarbon exploration and services have long had a presence in Algeria.
In the regional security situation in th Sahel following the change of regime in Libya and the conflict which placed Algeria in a difficult position as it had an initially difficult relationship with The National Transitional Council in Libya.. Algeria has been actively promoting itself as the leader in the fight against terrorism in the region and the US has been supportive of this. With its long border with Libya and its proximity to Niger and Mali it is centrally placed to take on this role and cooperates closely with the US Africom comand.
