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ALGIERS, April 10 (KUNA) -- Prime Minister Abdulmalek Sellal affirmed Sunday that terrorism and extremism have nothing to do with Noble Islam.
"The menace of terrorism poses a threat to civilization and Algeria, while fighting terrorism, doesn't associate it with Islam," he said at a joint press conference with his French counterpart Manuel Valls at the end of the French-Algerian High-level Intergovernmental Committee (CIHN).
He called for concerted efforts by the international community to protect security of all countries and remove the root causes of terrorism including hatred and malice.
He noted that there is a great deal of understanding and common ground between Algeria and France, which enables both countries to foil the attempts of certain powers to foment tensions.
"The Algerian people and government, led by President Abdulaziz Bouteflika are committed to the close relationship with France," he said, noting that the friendly ties serve the common interests of both sides.
"The bilateral ties have seen a quantum leap since early 2012 when the two countries set up the CIHN.
"The just-ended third session of the joint committee is exceptional since it witnessed the signing of agreements on cooperation in the political and security fields," Sellal added.
On his part, Valls said the relationship between Algeria and France is made of frankness and sincerity, but also common view on many subjects.
"We are resolutely turned towards the future, and we believe that this relationship is truly exceptional," Algeria Press Service (APS) quoted the French premier as saying.
Valls expressed "deep respect" to President Bouteflika, for the "essential" role he played with President Francois Hollande in this relation.
Regarding the CIHN meeting, he said that the presence of ten government ministers is a "clear demonstration" of the Algerian-French partnership, adding that this partnership has resulted in deeds through the agreements signed to enhance cooperation in terms of security, particularly in relation to major issues in the region such as Libya, and in terms of human exchanges toward youth, education, higher education and history.
Regarding terrorism, Valls said that the international community "should have understood better what was happening in Algeria in early 1990s and its difficult choices.
"Algeria has suffered for several years. We should have had a better understanding of what happened in Algeria in the early 1990s," Valls noted.
"Algeria and the Algerians fought bravely terrorism, we must remember it," he added.
Yesterday Valls started a two-day visit to Algeria to co-chair with Sellal the third CIHN session. (end)
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