ALGIERS – The member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), MP Ammar Moussa, denounced the European Parliament (EP) resolution on the human rights situation in Algeria, stressing that it is “an irresponsible attitude and blatant interference in the affairs of an independent and sovereign state”.
“No one has the right to impose tutelage on a sovereign state or to interfere in its internal affairs”, declared the deputy to the APS qualifying the interference in questions related to the Algerian justice of ” unacceptable flagrant interference “.
“The European Parliament allowed itself, for the second time, to ratify a resolution related to human rights in Algeria, after the first of November 27, 2019 on freedoms in Algeria, before surprising us with the second resolution last November 25. This is completely unacceptable, “he said.
For Mr. Ammar Moussa “it would have been more appropriate for the Members of the European Parliament to take care of their internal affairs”, recalling that during the same period in 2019, the French police brutally repressed the demonstrations of + yellow vests +, and during this year, the French Parliament is preparing to examine a liberticidal bill.
He highlighted, in this sense, “the numerous violations committed by certain European countries in the field of human rights”, citing “the operation to release hostages carried out for a month in Mali where a ransom was paid in flagrant violation of Security Council 2133 recommendations of 2014.
“Algeria played a pivotal role in the promulgation of a UN decision criminalizing ransom payers in order to dry up the sources of financing of terrorist groups”, he recalled.
The same MEP urged the EP to “focus on solving its internal problems, particularly with regard to emigrants and minority rights, instead of interfering in the affairs of sovereign countries.
Regarding the Algeria-EU Association Agreement, Mr. Ammar Moussa said that the majority of the members of the APN pleaded for its revision, in the sense that the document had been signed for a long time, when the Algeria was going through difficult conditions.
The member of the Lower House finance committee further indicated that “the association agreement with the EU did not bring any more to the Algerian economy while the majority of the benefits went to the European side in the detriment of the national economy “.
At the continental level, the African Parliamentary Union (APU), on Tuesday, strongly condemned the resolution of the European Parliament (EP) on the human rights situation in Algeria, qualifying it as “interference in the internal affairs of the Algerian state “.
The APU denounced, in a press release, the interference of the European Parliament (EP) in the internal affairs of the Algerian state, calling on this European institution to “respect the sovereignty of the Algerian state, its constitutional and legal system and non-interference in its internal affairs and those of African countries “.
The APU expressed “its solidarity with the Algerian Parliament in its position against this resolution of the European Parliament”.
The Union called, in this context, “for African parliamentary solidarity in the face of any interference in the internal affairs of African countries”.
On the other hand, Algeria’s National Council for Human Rights reacted to the European Parliament’s emergency resolution on the human rights situation in Algeria, passed last friday.
In a press release relayed by the official news agency APS, the National Council for Human Rights, estimated that “the European Parliament resolution, called emergency, is” unbalanced, partial and selective “”, stressing that ‘it aims “to give a” biased image “of the human rights situation in Algeria and to” hide “all the efforts made by the Algerian state in the matter”.
for the council, this resolution “betrays a relentlessness and a lack of tact towards a sovereign state which knows well the pangs of colonialism, in particular, the flegrant and systematic violetions of the human rights”.
“The European Parliament resolution does not provide any tangible proof of those allegations against the Algerian state. It speaks of arbitrary and illegal arrests and detentions of journalists, trade unionists, human rights defenders and lawyers without specifying the nature and form of this alleged arbitrariness “, added the same statement.
The National Council for Human Rights condemns in the strongest terms content of the european parliament resolution:
Indeed, the council pointed out that this resolution “comes at a time when Algeria is committed to the realization and implementation of the demands of genuine popular hirak through the adoption of a constitution consecrating the human rights and freedoms”.
“It also intervenes at a time when Algeria is waging a merciless war on corruption, laying the foundations of an independent judiciary far from the influence of other powers and implementing the policy of eliminating gray areas », added this body in the same vein.
Moreover, the same press release firmly condemned “the content of the european parliament resolution on the deterioration of human rights in Algeria”, believing that “those claims do not exist in Algeria, but, rather, in other neighboring regions of the European Parliament ”.
The National Council for Human Rights lences an appeal to civil society:
The National Council for Human Rights called on journalists, trade unionists, lawyers, human rights defenders and all civil society “to report any violations or overruns, or even attempts to violate their rights and freedoms, guaranteed by the constitution and international and regional agreements ratified by Algeria ”.
Finally, the council reaffirmed “its commitment to deal with these reports, within the framework of the powers and prerogatives conferred on it by the constitution and the law, in order to put an end to those overruns, investigate, prosecute and punish anyone against whom these accusations are proven ”.
For its part, the Consultative Council of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), on Monday, reiterated its “firm” condemnation of “characterized and recurrent interference” by the European Parliament (EP) concerning the situation of human rights and freedoms in Algeria, rejecting “reckless acts” on the part of the European legislative institution, said a statement from the Council.
“The presidency of the AMU Advisory Council has taken note of the new EP resolution concerning the situation of freedoms and human rights in Algeria, persisting in its the policy of double standards”, adding that this is not the first sinitar act of interference following that of April 30, 2015 and November 28, 2019 “.
Firmly condemning a “marked and recurring interference” in the internal affairs of an independent and sovereign State, member of the international community, the AMU Advisory Council rejects “rash acts on the part of this European federal and legislative institution, interfering as the representative of the forces of evil, who act according to known agendas, hostages of a colonial past which is contrary to the values of living together in the framework of cooperation and solidarity “.
The presidency of the AMU Advisory Council also denounced “the position of a federal institution, whose inability and failure have proved to be in the very accomplishment of its mission of contributing to the construction of a political union. Better still, its statutes do not even confer on it the legislative initiative within the framework of its competence “.
“How then can you afford to attack a sovereign state,” wondered the same source.
The Council castigates, moreover, “positions blinded by the despair aroused by the change and the transition in Algeria, adding that this wave of interference and despicable blackmail aims to divert the attention of the international community on serious things, held in silence both at European and international levels “.
In this regard, the Council notes that this position “coincides with the announcement by Algeria of its determination and its will to revise the association agreements with the European Union in order to preserve its national interests, on the one hand , and with its adherence to the settlement process in many hotbeds of tension and conflict zones, in the service of its national security and international peace and security, on the other hand. ”
The presidency of the AMU Advisory Council praised, in this context, “the unity of the Algerian people for the preservation of the positions of their country and the dignity of their children eager to promote the process of building a new era for a promising Algeria “.
Nationally, several political parties and national organizations, on Saturday, condemned the resolution of the European Parliament (EP) on the human rights situation in Algeria, considering it as “an attack on the sovereignty of Algeria”.
In this regard, the National Liberation Front (FLN) party “was indignant” at the resolution issued on Thursday by the EP on the human rights situation in Algeria, qualifying it as “odious interference in internal affairs of Algeria”.
“These MEPs, escaping the fact that Algeria is a fully sovereign state which submits only to the will of its free people receiving no injunction from anyone, are turning ablind eye on the violations and aggressions perpetrated in Western Sahara and have no qualms about the persistence of the suffering of a defenseless people who demand nothing more than self-determination, in accordance with United Nations resolutions “, affirmed this political party.
Reiterating its condemnation of the content of the resolution which it described as “odious interference” and “an act devoid of the elementary principles of diplomacy, good neighborliness and respect for the sovereignty of States”, the FLN party expressed conviction that “these provocations will never succeed in disturbing social cohesion in Algeria, nor undermining the confidence of Algerians placed in their State’s institutions and in the process of renewal and reform, under the leadership of the president of the Republic, crowned by the amendment of the Constitution on November 1, 2020 “.
For its part, the National Democratic Rally (RND) strongly denounced and condemned the European Parliament’s resolution on the human rights situation in Algeria, calling it “false allegations” which it rejects as a whole.
“This type of interference is likely to harm relations between Algeria and the European Union (EU) because it is an attempt to undermine the existing stability in our country compared to other European states”, supported the RND.
The El Bina Movement has expressed “its great concern at the repeated attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of Algeria”, condemning “any position or any act that violates national sovereignty”. He insisted on “the consolidation of the internal front and the attachment to national cohesion in order to protect Algeria from threats and risks and complete and secure the national transition process with the contribution of everyone”.
“The EP should have published a resolution denouncing the terrorist threats hanging over our country and the Mediterranean basin in general due to the payment of ransoms and the release of terrorists, acts prohibited by international decisions”, added the same party.
For its part, the Sawt Echaab party (voice of the people) also condemned the content of the EP resolution, comprising “lies, defamation and a blatant attack against Algeria with the clear intention of interfering in its business under the guise of the defense of human rights “, expressing” its rejection “of this content and the erroneous periodic reports which attempt to undermine the determination of Algerian leaders and people to move forward towards building a State of institutions “.
The El-Islah Movement also expressed “its deep indignation and its categorical rejection” of the resolution issued by the EP, affirming that this resolution “serves traditional geopolitical agendas hostile to Algeria”. The content of this resolution “falls far short of obeying requirements for objectivity, which undermines its credibility and lays bare its aims which are far from innocence,” said the El Islah Movement.
A resolution which intervenes “in a situation marked by worrying regional and international developments, during which the positions of Algeria, through the declarations of its President, were reiterated with force in favor of the just causes in the world, including the main two causes, Palestine and Western Sahara, ”added the political party.
The movement castigated “the silence” of the EP on these two causes, “ignoring” the rights of peoples in the world and the plundering of their resources and the potential of their societies.
On the same subject, the Movement of National Agreement indicated that Algeria “does not need to receive lessons”, as its sacrifices during the glorious war of liberation and the efforts in the face of terrorism have earned it “a lively base to preserve and ensure individual and collective freedoms and rights “.
“The EP is once again dictating a series of warnings although it is blind and deaf to the dangerous violations of human rights committed here and there around the world, especially in Western Sahara and Palestine “.
Officially, Algeria, on Thursday, strongly condemned the “provocative” resolution issued by the European Parliament criticizing the situation of freedoms in Algeria.
The European Parliament on Thursday approved a resolution to express “deep concern over the human rights breaches and the lack of freedoms in Algeria,” as the country witnesses since Feb. 22 rallies demanding changes.
The resolution urges the Algerian government to “find a solution to the current (political) crisis based on a peaceful and open political path.”
The Algerian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the resolution, saying in a statement “the European Parliament boldly interfered in domestic affairs of Algeria.”
“The European members of parliament have showed disregard to Algerian laws,” said the ministry, warning that the North African nation is likely to “review its relations with all EU institutions.”
For its part, Algeria’s National People’s Assembly (lower house of parliament) reacted to the European Parliament’s resolution, saying it “comes at a time when Algerians are heading to the polls to choose a new president following peaceful movement.”
The resolution also “comes after the completion of the legal tools and organizational structures that guarantee the freedom, transparency and integrity of the electoral process in a democratic path that reflects the magnitude of change that Algeria is experiencing,” added the assembly.
It further deplored the position of the European Parliament and considered it a “flagrant melding in domestic affairs of Algeria and a provocation to the Algerian people”.
Meanwhile the Council of the Nation (the upper house of parliament) expressed its “categorical” rejection to “any interference from any body in the internal affairs of our country.”
The speaker of the council, Salah Goudjil, said in a statement that “we reject foreign agendas imposed on Algeria and hope that the Algerian people will give a lesson to the world through their strong participation in the presidential elections of Dec. 12.”
