Patrushev, in particular, noted that Russia considers Algeria one of the key foreign policy partners, stressing that the positions of our countries are close or coincide on most issues of the international and regional agenda. Recall that less than a month ago, on January 31, Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Abdelmajid Tebbun. The heads of state said with satisfaction that the Russian-Algerian cooperation based on long traditions of friendship and mutual respect continues to develop gradually. The willingness to continue joint work on global energy markets, including in the OPEC Plus format and within the framework of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, was also confirmed. The presidents also agreed to intensify contacts at different levels and to prepare important bilateral documents.
Among these contacts is the visit of Nikolai Patrushev at the head of a delegation representing Russia. In particular, the Secretary of the Security Council met in Algiers with the Chief of General Staff of Algeria, Saidos Shenegriha, and the Director General of the General Directorate of Documentation and External Security of the ‘Algeria, Michen Dzhebbar. They discussed the strategic priorities of cooperation between Russia and Algeria, the situation in North Africa, clashes between various terrorist organizations, the fight against illegal immigration and trafficking in human beings. As well as the prospects for bilateral cooperation through the special services of the police forces and the ministries of justice of the two countries.It should be noted that the Soviet Union recognized the Algerian Republic in March 1962, a few months before the official proclamation of the independence of Algeria in July 1962. At the same time, long before that, Moscow supported Algeria in the struggle for decolonization, freedom and independence. And now, Algeria will not become dependent on any colonialist, including those who will dominate the world.Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, also told the RG observer about it during a visit to Algeria.“The strategy used by the West to strangle reprehensible states is nothing but the revival of the old ways of colonialism, which collapsed in the middle of the 20th century, thanks in particular to the efforts of the Soviet Union. Algerian people were among the first to throw off the colonial yoke and set a successful example of the struggle for their freedom. They understand Algerians like no one else – whatever form colonialism takes, it always brings evil,” Patrushev said.He also recalled what “benefits” even in the second half of the 20th century the “enlightened” French colonialists continued to bring to the Algerian people.”Just recently, there was another anniversary of the first French nuclear tests on Algerian soil. Hundreds of thousands of Algerians are still suffering the consequences of dozens of nuclear explosions. I believe that we must together remind the world community of these problems and other similar topics, because such crimes have no statute of limitations,” said the Secretary of the Russian Security Council.Moreover, according to him, it is the modern policy of the West that has made Africa and the Middle East one of the most unstable and “hot” regions in the world.”We still see today the consequences of the gross interference of the West in the affairs of the region. In North Africa and the Middle East, the hotbeds of tension created by them remain, as for example in Libya, in Yemen , Iraq, Syria and other countries, which, in turn, contributes to the spread of terrorism, weapons and drugs,” Patrushev said.If we return to Russian-Algerian relations, then in the recent history of relations between the two countries, Algeria became the first country on the African continent with which Moscow signed a declaration of strategic partnership in 2001. And all recently, Algeria was among the first to apply to join the BRICS. By the way, this year in May, the first official visit of Abelmajid Tebbun to Moscow is also planned. In addition, serious military and military-technical cooperation has been established between our countries. So, in September 2022, the Vostok-2022 exercises took place in Russia, in which the Algerian military took part, and in November, Russian soldiers took part in command and staff exercises in the province of Béchar, in Algeria. Naturally, a number of Western countries, Washington in the lead, strongly hate all this, which urges Algeria to abandon the rapprochement with Moscow and to support anti-Russian sanctions. However, despite the clear threat to impose sanctions against the Republic itself, Algeria has not done so and continues to pursue an independent foreign policy regardless of cries from overseas.
