- Foreign relations of Algeria
Algeria has traditionally practiced an activist foreign policy and in the 1960s and 1970s was noted for its support ofThird World policies and independence movements. Algerian diplomacy was instrumental in obtaining the release of U.S. hostages fromIran in 1980, and in ending theIran–Iraq War . Since his inauguration, President Bouteflika worked to improve Algeria's international reputation, traveling extensively throughout the world. In July 2001, he became the first Algerian President to visit the White House in 16 years. He has made official visits toFrance ,South Africa ,Italy ,Spain ,Germany , thePeople's Republic of China ,Japan , andRussia , among others, since his inauguration.Algeria has taken the lead in working on issues related to the African Continent. Host of the
Organisation of African Unity Conference in 2000, Algeria also was key in bringingEthiopia andEritrea to the peace table in 2000. It has worked closely with its African neighbors to establish the New African Partnership. Algeria has taken a lead in reviving the Union of the Arab Maghreb with its regional neighbors.Since 1976, Algeria has supported the
Polisario Front , a group claiming to represent the population ofWestern Sahara , which is based among the 160,000 Sahrawirefugee s who reside inrefugee camp s in Algeria. Contending that theSahrawis have a right to self determination under theUN Charter , Algeria has provided the Polisario with material, financial, and political support and sanctuary in southwestern Algeria'sTindouf Province . UN involvement in the Western Sahara includesMINURSO , a peacekeeping force, andUNHCR , forrefugee assistance and resettlement. Active diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute under the auspices of the Special Representative of the Secretary General are on-going. Although the land border betweenMorocco and Algeria was closed in the wake of a terrorist attack, the two have worked at improving relations. Algeria has friendly relations with its other neighbors in theMaghreb ,Tunisia andLibya , and with its Sub-Saharan neighbors,Mali andNiger . It closely monitors developments in theMiddle East and has been strong proponent of the rights of thePalestinian people, calling publicly for an end to violence in theOccupied Palestinian Territories .Algeria has diplomatic relations with more than 100 foreign countries, and over 90 countries maintain diplomatic representation in Algiers.
International disputes: part of the southeastern region is also claimed by
Libya ; Algeria supports exiledWestern Sahara nPolisario Front and rejects Moroccan administration of WesternSahara ; some countries question its use ofcapital punishment .ee also
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Algeria-Pakistan relations References
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