Easy access at the tip of your fingers, subscribe to our daily ePaper version of our New Era Newspaper.
Home / Algeria unwavering in support of Western Sahara independence
Algeria unwavering in support of Western Sahara independence
2015-11-09Staff Report 2 Windhoek Algerian Ambassador to Namibia Sid Ali Abdelbari has reiterated Algeria’s support for the independence of Western Sahara. “Its people deserve to decide freely on their own fate through a free and fair referendum, in accordance with the principle of self-determination,” Abdelbari said at the occasion to mark the 61st anniversary of the national day of Algeria, held in Windhoek last week. He said that because the Western Sahara issue is a decolonization problem that has been thwarted, it is the duty of the international community, the African Union and the United Nations (UN) to exert all possible efforts to enable the Sahrawi people to express themselves on their future, in accordance with international law and the relevant resolutions of the UN. He said it is also important to respond to the Palestinian people’s aspirations and rights for a national state on the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel, on the basis of a two-state solution. He said Algeria and Namibia enjoy excellent relations, built up during the struggle of the two countries against colonialism and apartheid. Currently about 40 Namibian students are studying in Algeria. “We are proud to contribute to the capacity building of Namibian human resources through training. We are looking forward to broadening and strengthening our cooperation in various fields such as energy, trade, industry, agriculture, education and other socio-economic fields,” said the ambassador. The Namibian Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maureen Hinda praised Algeria as a great pan-Africanist nation that has supported and hosted many important pan-African organizations, including the Pan African Youth Movement. “I am reminded that important decisions of the Organization of African Unity/African Union were taken in Algeria like the Algiers Declaration on the unconstitutional change of governments,” she said. Hinda said that Algeria continues to demonstrate solidarity with the people of Namibia through various programmes, including generous study and scholarship programmes, and millions of dollars’ worth of humanitarian aid during droughts and floods. “Namibia and Algeria still share many common values and principles. We both support the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination. Our two countries also support the people of Palestine in their pursuit to exercise their inalienable right to determine their own future and establish an independent state of Palestine,” said Hinda. 2015-11-09Staff Report 2
