Algerian Foreign Minister, Abdelkader Messahel, has co-chaired, on Wednesday in New York, with his Malian counterpart “Abdoulaye Diop” and UN Secretary-General “Antonio Guterres”, in the ministerial meeting on the implementation of the agreement for peace and reconciliation in Mali, said Thursday its ministerial department in a statement.
Organized on the sidelines of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly, this meeting which saw the participation of the Malian President, Ibrahim Boubakar Keita, “offered the participants the opportunity to carry out a step evaluation of the Process of Implementation of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, resulting from the Algiers Process, “said the same source.
In his address, Mr Messahel said that the situation in Mali was marked by “positive developments that should be encouraged by more action directed towards the effective implementation of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation Mali “, resulting from the Algiers Process.
In this regard, he recalled the holding of the National Understanding Conference and the subsequent adoption of the Charter on Peace and Reconciliation, the initiation of the constitutional review process and the adoption by the Security Council of the United Nations a resolution on the establishment of a sanctions regime.
The Minister also recalled the signing of the agreement between Azawad Movement Coordination (CMA) and the Platform and the finalization of discussions between the Malian parties signing the Agreement on the return of the Malian State and its symbols to Kidal, as well as the operationalization of Kidal Operational Coordination Mechanism and the appointment of an Independent Observer.
Addressing political and institutional reforms, Messahel said that “important steps have already been taken”, notably with the operationalization of the regions of Taoudenit and Menaka, whose governors have been appointed and installed, the installation of the Authorities and the ongoing process for the drafting of legislative and regulatory texts on decentralization, territorial administration and elections, as well as for the constitutional review. “What is comforting and worthy of note in this respect is that all these crucial operations are carried out in a spirit of dialogue and agreement between the parties to the Agreement,” the minister said.
While enumerating a number of other advances, notably in the area of reconciliation, humanitarian, defense and security, Messahel said that “significant challenges remain in the implementation of the Agreement “.
In this regard, he stressed “the need” to accelerate operationalization of the Joint Operational Mechanism battalions and the deployment of joint patrols in all regions of the North, as well as the rapid installation and normal operation of Interim authorities for the return of basic social services to the benefit of the population.
Mr. Messahel assured that Algeria “will continue its efforts for the construction of peace, stabilization and economic development in Mali, in accordance with the instructions of the President of the Republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika who follows, with the utmost attention the evolution of the situation in Mali and, more generally, throughout Sahel area “.