Yesterday, Saturday, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune spoke about his positions on the most prominent Arab and regional files, saying that his country will not abandon its principles and convictions.
In an interview with the local press, Tebboune discussed the crisis in Libya, the Palestinian issue, Western Sahara, relations with Russia and China, and the upcoming Arab summit hosted by Algeria.
Regarding the Libyan issue, the Algerian president said that his country supports international legitimacy in Libya through the government of Abdel Hamid Dabaiba, and that it will be replaced by elections that produce a new parliament that will appoint a new government.
Dabaiba refuses to hand over power except to a government that comes according to a new elected parliament, in implementation of the outcomes of the political dialogue forum.
Regarding the conflict over legitimacy in Libya, the Algerian president said, "We will not enter into the path of division in Libya... A new government (Pashaga's government) has been appointed by a National Assembly (Parliament), and the government that has international legitimacy is the government of Abdel Hamid Dabaiba, and we support international legitimacy. It will not be anything other than this international legitimacy."
Tebboune denied that his country was preparing to host an international conference on Libya, saying that "the Libyan brothers asked us to organize this conference.. so far we have not responded to the offer and we are studying the issue.. Algeria does not enter into organizing a failed conference.. We weigh the matter and if there is." Indicators of success, we will do this, but if they are indicators of division for Arab countries, we will not do it."
Dabaiba visited Algeria last Monday, and said that he informed Tebboune of his plan to hold the elections as part of efforts to mobilize regional and international support for it.
decolonization
On another matter, the Algerian president said that his country would not abandon Palestine or the Western Sahara, "because the two issues are related to decolonization."
Tebboune made it clear that the Palestinian cause was and still is one of the Algerian constants since the era of the late President Houari Boumediene.
Regarding his country's position on Spain after withdrawing the Algerian ambassador, he said, "What Spain has done is morally and historically unacceptable, and Spain should not forget its historical responsibility for the tragedy and suffering of the Sahrawi people."
In the same context, he added, "We, as a country, have very strong ties with Spain, and we differentiate well between the practices of peoples and states and the practices of regimes...I say to the Spanish people that Algeria will not abandon its role in supplying it with gas, whatever the circumstances."
On relations with Russia, Tebboune said, "Russia is a friendly country and China is also, and no one has the right to hold us accountable for our friendly countries, and the United States understands the nature of our relationship with Russia."
Regarding the Arab summit, which his country will host in early November, the Algerian president affirmed that it "will witness the participation of all Arab countries without exception."