Lisabeth Moore Aubin, US Ambassador to Algeria answered questions on Monday about the risks of US sanctions, Western Sahara, economic cooperation between the two countries…
In her keynote address to the press conference, she made a subtle plea for press freedom, which she called “one of the most cherished values” in the United States.
“I believe this kind of engagement is vital to promoting the free flow of information,” she says. This is how she answers all questions without taboo. Or almost.
Ms. Aubin categorically refuses to discuss Algeria’s plan to join the Brics group or Algerian-Chinese relations.
On the rest, the diplomat spoke at length, particularly on the economic partnership between Algeria and the United States. “As ambassador, my top priority is to continue to develop our strong economic partnership,” she adds.
“The United States will be a first-rate partner for Algeria,” she said, adding that American companies could contribute to the diversification of the Algerian economy.
Economic missions, outside the hydrocarbon sector, are exchanged, covering several areas such as renewable energies, water resources and the pharmaceutical industry.
“Since Algeria seeks to diversify its economy, we aspire to a win-win partnership, especially since Algeria has the necessary potential”, indicates the ambassador who repeats what she said last June at the International Fair. of Algiers, namely that American companies bring added value because they do not bring back expatriates, preferring to train Algerian executives and technicians.
American companies are ready to invest in Algeria, but not at any price, the ambassador seems to mean. “American companies need certain conditions to invest in Algeria. They want to evolve in a safe, stable and unhindered environment, particularly for the transfer of dividends,” she maintains.
“Algeria is a strategic and important partner”
At the last fair in Algiers, the United States was the guest country of honor. In a speech delivered on the occasion, Ms. Aubin had pointed out the obstacles and shortcomings of the business climate in Algeria. But since then, she says, “the new investment law has taken care of all these issues”.
It also announces concrete partnership projects, such as the construction of a hospital in Blida or a shrimp production farm in Relizane and others that will be announced later.
This economic partnership is also called to be boosted by the opening of an Algiers-New York airline, on which “discussions are in progress”.
In terms of cultural cooperation, the American ambassador announced the forthcoming opening of another cultural center in her country in Béchar, which will be added to those of Algiers, Oran, Ouargla and Constantine.
She also said that she was very attached to promoting the learning of English, through the many programs of the embassy, including one intended for Algerian officials to enable them to “master English in order to be able to address their foreign counterparts and read the reports written in English”.
Then come the political questions, including the long-awaited call by American parliamentarians to impose sanctions on Algeria for its arms purchases from Russia.
Ms. Aubin first brings the initiative back to its true dimension, pointing out that it emanates from a senator and 27 members of the House of Representatives, while the two houses of Congress are made up of 535 parliamentarians.
“Of course, the question of armament is important for the United States. But at the same time, she continues, Algeria is a strategic and important partner for the United States. For partners purchasing arms from Russia, we have advocated diversification of sources of supply from non-Russian suppliers and we have heard Algerian officials state that they are committed to diversifying sources of stockpiles of defense “.
Western Sahara: a solution under the aegis of the UN
Between Algeria and the United States, there is a “strategic, political and defense” dialogue and there are discussions concerning Africa and the Sahel, indicates the diplomat about the situation in this region.
“Both countries want stability in the region. US side gets advice from Algeria. Our two countries are concerned by the problem of terrorism and extremism in the Sahel region. We are still in direct discussion with the Algerian side”, she said, adding that Algeria and the United States are making efforts to give “economic opportunities” to the countries of the Sahel to help them develop and ” defeat extremism”.
On the question of Western Sahara, Elisabeth Aubin assures that her country and Algeria share the same opinion as to the need for a solution under the aegis of the UN, through the Personal Envoy Staffan De Mistura.
“The conflict has lasted too long, 47 years. The United States reaffirms that it wants a political solution under the aegis of the United Nations,” she said. As for the African Lion military maneuvers, carried out with Morocco, the ambassador assures that they have never taken place on “disputed territories”, adding that “the United States has good relations both with Morocco and with Algeria.
On the Palestinian issue, the two countries are also converging according to the American diplomat, both supporting the two-state solution.
Ms. Aubin seizes the opportunity to “salute” Algeria for its efforts to bring together the Palestinian factions, and for the organization of the Arab Summit, described as “great success”.
The United States took part “for the first time”, as an observer country, she recalls. Another action of Algeria welcomed by the American ambassador, its efforts to contribute to “deal” with the energy crisis induced by the war in Ukraine.
Translated from : https://www.tsa-algerie.com/algerie-etats-unis-lambassadrice-aubin-dit-tout/
