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Posted by Matt Dempsey
Matt_dempsey@inhofe.senate.gov
Today, Senator Inhofe met with the new Ambassador to the United States from the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Abdallah Baali. As a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Inhofe sees meeting with foreign diplomats as a top priority to building global partnerships that will strengthen U.S. security relations.
“I was pleased to meet with Ambassador Abdallah Baali of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria today,” Senator Inhofe said. “His achievements as a diplomat and UN representative are commendable and reflective of his country’s important role as a U.S. ally and partner in the global war on terror.
“President Bouteflika and the leaders of Algeria have helped Algeria become a strong developing state, I know them personally, and look forward to a close relationship with Ambassador Baali as we work together in the interest of our two countries and for the interest of global democracy.
“Among the items we discussed was AFRICOM and how it can help support the countries in Africa that are fighting for peace. The Ambassador conveyed Algeria’s strong support of the African Union’s efforts and pledged to provide airlift support and join training programs to quell the fighting and terrorism that plagues parts of Africa.
“During my trips to Africa, I have had the opportunity to visit Algeria and one of the refugee camps in Tindouf where there were almost 160,000 Saharwi refugees. Algeria, due to its proximity to Western Sahara, is playing a vital role as an observer in negotiations seeking a solution to the 30-year-old conflict. Ambassador Baali was the head of the Algerian delegation to the Morocco-Saharawi negotiations on Western Sahara from 2006-2008, so he brings a great deal of knowledge of the pressing issues facing Algeria and the region to his current post as Ambassador to the United States.”
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