Algeria, Tunisia underline importance of security, military cooperation

Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra said Tuesday a meeting, co-chaired Tuesday by Prime Minister Abdulmalek Sellal and Tunisia's Prime Minister Mahdi Jomaa, was a chance for a "comprehensive and deep analysis of all the changes relating to the security, development and bilateral relations." In a press joint conference, Lamamra said that the meeting, held in Tebassa, 634 kms east of Algiers, represented "a climate of fraternity, solidarity and cooperation, particularly in the security cooperation field." Lamamra added that the city of Tebessa, which witnessed glorious events during the Algerian revolution, is also a symbol of strong cohesion between two peoples as clearly showed by the Tunisian people's deep solidarity with its Algerian brothers during the National Revolution as well as during the ordeals that our country went through." The two sides focused on the living conditions on the joint borders and the different development programs and projects launched there for the benefit of the two peoples, Lamamra noted.
For his part, Tunisia's Foreign Minister Monji Hamdi underlined the political will of the two countries "to strengthen security cooperation," adding that they are facing the same territorial and security challenges.
"This visit aims at consolidating coordination and consultation between the two sister countries in order to overcome the security challenges, particularly the fight against terrorism, the organized crime and arms trafficking," Hamdi said.
The Tunisian minister added that the meeting was also an opportunity to examine prospects for closer cooperation between the two countries, and to agree on a series of recommendations to enhance security and military cooperation.
Hamdi noted that his country "values the position of Algeria, which has supported Tunisia during its transition to democracy."