The Algerian authorities took a series of measures to make the hajj (pilgrimage) season successful, including biometric passports and the granting of the visa of Hajj in a "record" time, in coordination with the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Algiers, Minister of Religious Affairs, Mohamed Aissa said Sunday in Algiers.
Speaking on the occasion of the departure of the first group of Hajjis (247 Hajjis) from Houari Boumediene International Airport, the minister gave religious and spiritual recommendations to Algerian Hajjis.
He called, in this context, Algerian Hajjis to be an "example" for other Hajjis through "good behavior, moderation and the resort to mufti."
Aissa recalled "president of the Republic subsidized the cost of hajj this year with an amount of 24,000 dinars for each hajji and facilities for obtaining the biometric passport and visa."
For his part, Minister of Transport, Amar Ghoul stated the measures to carry Hajjis from and to the Holy Places recalling that "Air Algeria will transport 16,000 Hajjis while" Saudi Airlines "will transport 12,800 hajjis from 5 airports."
These measures are implemented upon instructions given by Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal at the last meeting of the interministerial council dedicated to the Hajj season 2014.
For his part, Director General of the National Office of Hajj and Umrah, Cheikh Berbarastressed "all measures have been taken to ensure the success of this season," especially in terms of accommodation, transport and services, and in coordination with the Saudi authorities.
For its part, the Saudi ambassador in Algiers, Ben Mahmoud Hussein Qattane, highlighted the "good coordination" between the Algerian and Saudi authorities, especially regarding the "health measures".