Algeria, 2011

His

Excellency Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of the

People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, has given me

the honour of delivering this address to the General

Assembly. At the outset, I wish to congratulate the

President of the General Assembly for his assumption

of the presidency at its sixty-sixth session. His

professional experience in the United Nations and his

personal qualities will undoubtedly lead to the

excellent conduct and success of our work.

I also pay tribute to his predecessor, Mr. Joseph

Deiss, for his efforts. Finally, I reiterate my

congratulations to Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-

General, upon his reappointment and express my

country’s satisfaction for the dynamic manner by

which he is leading the work and role of the

Organization.

Now that the Republic of South Sudan has joined

the family of the United Nations, on behalf of my

country, I warmly congratulate the people and the

Government of that kindred country.

The main theme of this session, namely, the role

of mediation in the settlement of disputes by peaceful

means, was chosen at a time of aggravated tensions,

the recurrence of economic and financial crises,

increasing unresolved challenges and diminished

efforts and cooperation in multilateralism.

Today’s globalized but confused world has

strayed from its social structures and balances and been

crisscrossed by new, unregulated influences and

unequal relationships. Therefore, the international

system that was established in 1945 requires today

adaptation to current demands in order to respond to

the expectations of the people of the world.

Algeria is following with special interest the

ongoing events in some countries in its region, which

have led to numerous lives lost and huge material

damage. Algeria deplores the violence experienced in

some countries, and reiterates its call for a political

settlement of all of those ongoing situations, based on

the aspirations of the people for freedom, justice and

democracy, and respect for each country’s sovereignty

and for international law.

With respect to Libya, Algeria expects a rapid

restoration of peace and security and the formation of a

Government that represents all sections of Libyan

society. We are convinced that Libya’s stability is a

fundamental element for the stability of the region as a

whole. From this podium, Algeria reaffirms its

determination to work immediately with the new

Libyan authorities to promote full, exemplary bilateral

collaboration based on a spirit of brotherhood and

solidarity.

Recent developments on the Arab stage will not

fail to directly affect the situation prevailing in the

Middle East. Continued Israeli occupation of Palestine

and other occupied Arab territories, as well as the lack

of genuine prospects for just and lasting peace in the

region are, in that regard, a source of deep concern for

Algeria. The stalemated peace process in the Middle

East, the continued building of settlements and the

continued campaign to Judaize the holy city of

Al-Quds continue daily to further distance any prospect

of a just and lasting peace based on the principle of

land for peace.

That situation, which weighs heavy with risk and

uncertainty in an already sensitive region, is both an

affront to the peoples of the region and a challenge for

the entire international community. Among those

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challenges, the inhumane embargo of Gaza and its

seacoast constitutes a genuine collective punishment of

its inhabitants.

The Palestinian Authority’s initiative, at this

session, requesting that Palestine be recognized as a

full Member State of the United Nations is an

opportunity for the United Nations to correct, to some

extent, an injustice that has lasted for over 60 years

now. This admission will be a clear, unequivocal

response by the international community showing its

determination to impose international law and to reject

a policy of fait accompli.

In the same context, Algeria reiterates its concern

at the persistence of coercive economic measures and

unilateral sanctions against developing countries. I

would recall in this respect the embargo that has been

imposed against Cuba for over half a century now.

There is another issue on the agenda of the

United Nations that calls for special attention, namely,

the situation in the Western Sahara. Indeed, no effort

must be spared in promoting the path of dialogue and

negotiation, which is the only way that will enable the

Saharawi people to freely express their right to self-

determination. In this context, Algeria reiterates its

commitment to provide full support to the efforts of the

Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, and appeals

to both parties, Morocco and the Frente Polisario, to

demonstrate a spirit of responsibility in settling this

conflict, which has unfortunately lasted all too long.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the

terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. The time has

come for the international community to reiterate its

full commitment to the fight against international

terrorism. The progress made to date to eradicate this

scourge does not yet satisfy us, nor does it allow us to

let down our guard. On the contrary, we should remain

ready to contribute appropriate solutions to the root

causes of terrorism and its many ramifications.

Algeria would thus take this opportunity to stress

the threefold need to, first, reach the necessary

consensus to hasten the adoption of an international

convention against terrorism; secondly, adopt a

protocol prohibiting the paying of ransoms to terrorist

groups; and finally, prevent the use of information and

communications technologies for criminal purposes.

In order for this approach to succeed, we must

ensure a return to strict respect for the fundamentals of

our cooperation, the preservation of the universal

character of our Organization, the primacy of

international law and the full application of the rules of

multilateralism.

The current weaknesses of world governance are

illustrated on a daily basis in the various crises that we

face. In this respect, I would refer first to the inability

of the United Nations in general, and the Security

Council in particular, to manage conflicts that threaten

international peace and security or even to ensure the

implementation of their own resolutions. Secondly, I

would refer to the recent global economic and financial

crisis and its devastating effects, in particular its

impact on developing countries’ economies. This crisis

has exposed a system subject to the vagaries of the

market, which responds more to the need for large

private companies to make a profit than to the need for

growth and development. This system excludes the

countries of the South from both the management of

relevant international institutions and from setting the

rules that govern them. Thirdly, I would mention the

tragic effects of climate change, which are a real threat

to the future of the international community.

Given these realities, we must adopt, within the

framework of the United Nations, a global, inclusive

approach in order to, first, ensure general reform of the

United Nations as a precondition to the establishment

of financial institutions that can respond to the

expectations of our countries and counter speculative

movements and the virtual markets’ dominance over

the realities of the world economy. Secondly, the

reform of the United Nations should make it possible

for an effective collective security system to emerge

that will be able to respond to the breadth and

complexity of the challenges that the international

community faces. Thirdly, we must ensure the success

of upcoming events and programmes on the United

Nations agenda, in order to achieve real awareness-

raising and so that decisive action can be taken to settle

the problems caused by climate change.

If Algeria is encouraging the adoption of a global

approach at this crucial point of the world’s

development, it is because it has participated in certain

initiatives that have demonstrated how effective they

can be at the regional level. Here, I would refer to the

many efforts undertaken by the Sahel countries, along

with their partners, during the international conference

on development and the fight against terrorism held

recently in Algeria. This allowed us to make important

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decisions on containing the phenomenon of terrorism,

reducing its effects and attacking its root causes.

Beyond the fight against terrorism, the conference also

insisted on highlighting a priority that is often

forgotten, which is putting the issue of development at

the very heart of all cooperation efforts. Such

cooperation, which is currently very crucial at the

regional level, requires support from our partners that

responds to the needs expressed by our countries.

I would like to devote the last part of my

comments to recent measures undertaken by my

country to reinforce political, economic and social

reforms aimed at strengthening the rule of law and

good governance. On the political and institutional

levels, these reforms include a review of the

Constitution, the adoption of a new law on information

and the media, the decriminalization of press offences,

an opening of audiovisual media, an amendment of the

law on political parties and of the electoral law, and the

strengthening of the role of women in elected bodies.

These political reforms are based on our firm

desire to promote human rights as broadly as possible,

as was reiterated to all the special rapporteurs who

have visited Algeria since November 2010.

On the economic level, decisive measures have

been taken to improve the business climate, free up

productive energy and reinforce the role of companies

and institutions as the drivers of growth and

development. On the social level, as Algeria is

concerned about the future of its youth, it has increased

the number of its assistance and employment

programmes for the various categories of youth so that

they can make a smooth integration into the labour

market. These measures will of course lead to a

strengthening of the democratic process and of the rule

of law through an inclusive approach that brings

together all the political and social forces in my

country.