Jean Asselborn Addresses Direct Air Service, Food Security, Energy During Algeria Visit

Luxembourg's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn is on a 3-day working visit to the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria; on Wednesday 24 August 2022, he had the opportunity to conduct several bilateral interviews in Algiers.

Minister Asselborn was received in audience by the President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune. On this occasion, Miister Asselborn told the Head of State of Luxembourg's solidarity with the Algerian people, who were again hit by serious forest fires this summer.

Subsequently, the head of Luxembourg's diplomacy met his counterpart, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad. The meeting made it possible to strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation between Luxembourg and Algeria, in particular thanks to the signing of an agreement on air services, which could eventually facilitate the establishment of a direct air link between the two countries.

The ministers also took stock of the security and humanitarian situation in Europe resulting from the Russian military aggression against Ukraine. In this regard, the oldest European foreign minister presented the efforts of the European Union to counteract the negative effects caused by the war on food security at the global level. The ministers jointly affirmed their commitment to respect for international law. “Respect for the essential principles of the UN Charter – such as territorial integrity and national sovereignty – is in the interest of the entire international community, and especially of Africa." said Minister Asselborn.

Likewise, the two ministers had an exchange of views on regional topics such as the security situation in Mali and the Sahel, and the situation in Western Sahara. In this respect, Minister Asselborn underlined Luxembourg's support for the mediation efforts of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General, Mr. Staffan de Mistura.

Finally, Minister Asselborn had a bilateral meeting with Mr. Mohamed Arkab, Algerian Minister of Energy and Mines. Faced with energy blackmail from Russia, Minister Asselborn noted that Algeria has shown solidarity and responsibility towards European partners by increasing its gas deliveries.