Newly appointed Ambassador Lamamra of Algeria
has presented his letter of credence to President Bill Clinton on July
29th, 1996.
When presenting his credencials to President Bill Clinton, Ambassador Lamamra stated that:
He is "heartened by the understanding and the support" that
President Clinton and his administration have "manifested for Algeria's
endeavor on the road to a better future. ... I have been entrusted by President
Liamine Zeroual to spare no effort to improve and further develop the relations
of friendship and cooperation between Algeria and the United States of
America," he added.
"As witnessed in recent history," Lamamra stated, "the
United States could rely, in dramatic circumstances, on the commitment
and strength of Algeria's friendship as well as on her role as a serious
and responsible partner on the international scene. Algeria is more than
ever dedicated to such friendship and partnership. I am convinced that
the United States will be willing to collaborate with my country at the
bilateral, regional and international levels to help write a glorious page
in the history of Algerian-American relations."
In reply to Mr Lamamra's statement, President Clinton stated the following:
"From the moment we signed a peace treaty with the Dey of Algiers
in 1795, bilateral relations commanded the attention of our nation's first
president," President Clinton said July 29 as he accepted the Letter
of Credence of newly appointed Ambassador of Algeria to the United States
Ramtane Lamamra.
In the two hundred years of relations between the two countries, Clinton
said, "Algerian leaders have provided succor to Americans in distress.
In the 1830s, Abdelkader provided a safehaven for the American Consul General
in Damascus. More recently, Algerian diplomats helped secure the release
of American hostages in Iran in 1981. Algeria continues to play a very
important role in the Middle East, Africa, and Mediterranean regions."
Ambassador Lamamra statement
Your Excellency:
I have the distinct honor and great privilege to present to You the
Letters by which His Excellency Liamine Zeroual, President of the People's
Democratic Republic of Algeria, accredits me to Your Excellency in my quality
as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Algeria to the United
States of America, as well as the Letters of Recall of my predecessor.
I avail myself of this opportunity to convey to you the warmest regards
and the good wishes of President Liamine Zeroual who has kept fond memories
of the meeting he had with Your Excellency in New York, on October 22,
1995.
Today, as I officially begin a challenging mission in Washington with
the hope and the objective that it will enrich and strengthen the bonds
of friendship between our two peoples and that it will further develop
cooperation between our two countries, my thoughts go to the many Americans,
the most famous of whom being the late President John F. Kennedy, who extended
their precious support to Algeria's war of independence as they rightly
believed that the liberation struggle of the Algerian people was motivated
by the very values to which the Founding Fathers of the United States of
America have given universal significance and scope.
These shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and free enterprise
were massively embraced by the people of Algeria in the first pluralistic
presidential election of their country's history, on November 16, 1995.
Those same values also inspire President Liamine Zeroual as he leads Algeria
into a future geared toward building a democratic and harmonious society
firmly established on the foundations of its national identity and turned
toward modernity.
With vision, passion and compassion, President Liamine Zeroual is channeling
the resources and energies of the Algerian Nation in the virtues of dialogue
and national reconciliation in order to promote the completion of the country's
institutional build-up through free and pluralistic elections. Fully in
keeping with the Constitution and the Laws of the Republic, President Liamine
Zeroual's all-inclusive policy will continue to be carried out in the coming
months with a view to consolidating the foundations of a State which will
outlive events and leaders and guarantee the blessings of a normal life
for the citizens of Algeria.
Your Excellency:
The all-encompassing and important task of national recovery currently
undertaken by Algeria has been designed to lead the country into the next
millennium with a clear understanding of the internal and external factors
which condition its success. In addition to rooting out terrorist violence,
the Algerian Government's top priorities include opening up the political,
economic, social and cultural areas and providing equal chances and opportunities
to all, while resolutely striving to prevent social disintegration and
exclusion. Evidence of the Algerian people's adherence to the task of national
recovery can be seen every day through their support of the electoral agenda
of the President of the Republic, through their endurance in the face of
difficulties encountered as the country progresses in developing its market
economy, through their resistance to terrorism, and through the example
set by the acts of countless patriotic men and women who bear the promise
of a triumphant Algeria. Indeed, as a phenomenon that is alien to the civilizational
heritage of our society, terrorism is already a lost cause in Algeria.
Your Excellency:
I recall your forceful statement that it is incumbent upon the United
States "to help others realize their dreams." The dreams of the
Algerian people, as I have tried to relate them to you, are about to come
true. I am heartened by the understanding and the support that Yourself
and your Administration have manifested for Algeria's endeavor on the road
to a better future. I am equally encouraged by the significance and the
volume of the mutually beneficial economic and financial cooperation that
binds our countries. I have been entrusted by President Liamine Zeroual
to spare no effort to improve and further develop the relations of friendship
and cooperation between Algeria and the United States of America.
As witnessed in recent history, the United States could rely, in dramatic
circumstances, on the commitment and strength of Algeria's friendship as
well as on her role as a serious and responsible partner on the international
scene. Algeria is more than ever dedicated to such friendship and partnership.
I am convinced that the United States will be willing to collaborate with
my country at the bilateral, regional and international levels to help
write a glorious page in the history of Algerian-American relations.
Finally, I would like to most sincerely thank you for making me and
my family feel welcome at the White House and for the attention that you
have honored me with.
Mr. Ambassador:
I am pleased to accept your Letter of Credence, which establishes you
as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic and Popular
Republic of Algeria to the United States. I also acknowledge the Letter
of Recall of your predecessor, Ambassador Hadj Osmane Bencherif. I would
like to extend to you and your family a warm welcome to Washington.
For both America and Algeria, July heralds the anniversaries of our
nations' independence. From the moment we signed a peace treaty with the
Dey of Algiers in 1795, bilateral relations commanded the attention of
our nation's first President. Indeed, two hundred years ago, on July 13th,
George Washington's envoy, Joel Barlow, signed the first bilateral agreement.
In years hence, Algerian leaders have provided succor to Americans in
distress. In the 1830s, Abdelkader provided a safehaven for the American
Consul General in Damascus. More recently, Algerian diplomats helped secure
the release of American hostages in Iran in 1981. Algeria continues to
play a very important role in the Middle East, Africa, and Mediterranean
regions.
Unfortunately, terrorism remains a major concern of both our governments
today. Although you have correctly labeled terrorism a failed strategy,
this scourge continues to claim many victims in Algeria and beyond. From
Boufarik to Dhahran, from Lockerbie to Oklahoma City, terrorists have lashed
out and killed many innocents. We have deplored the harrowing incidences
of political violence in Algeria and I especially appreciated your government's
condemnation of recent attacks against Americans. We welcomed your Foreign
Minister's participation in the Summit of the Peacemakers and look forward
to continued cooperation with your government in the global fight against
terrorism.
When your president articulated a strategy of political and economic
reform aimed at hastening the process of national reconciliation following
his election last November, I wrote to him pledging American support as
he opened the political process to those who renounced violence. I also
stressed the importance of continuing with the process of liberalizing
the economy. A political solution to the ongoing confrontation will make
the economic reform program much easier and immensely more successful.
That is why we continue to support and encourage President Zeroual's call
for reconciliation, dialogue, press freedom, and greater political openness.
As your country moves forward with political dialogue and a national
conference this summer, our government will look closely for clear indications
that President Zeroual's inclusive policy is indeed moving Algeria toward
democratic pluralism, national reconciliation, and ultimately civil peace
and economic prosperity. The United States shares a strong interest in
Algeria's freedom from violence and intolerance.
Mr. Ambassador, I wish you every success in Washington as the United
States and Algeria face the challenges and opportunities ahead.
