ALGIERS-Ahmed Attaf took office Saturday in Algiers as Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, replacing Ramtane Lamamra, following the ministerial reshuffle conducted Thursday by the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

 

In a statement to the press after the handover ceremony held at the headquarters of the Ministry, Attaf expressed his gratitude to the President of the Republic for the confidence placed in him to help promote "the country's foreign policy and enable it to make further qualitative achievements, commensurate with the role of Algeria, its values, its weight, and its legitimate aspirations.”

 

“I met with the President of the Republic two days ago. He gave me guidelines to raise foreign policy to high levels of efficiency and influence. The national interest is the compass that guides the President of the Republic in the analysis, evaluation, extrapolation, and foresight,” he continued.

 

To serve the country’s interest, Attaf said that the President of the Republic had defined the priorities, approaches, and methodology to follow, he said, stressing that his department "will have in the near future the opportunity to develop actions plan that fit the requirements of each of the files classified by the President of the Republic as priority and urgent.”

The current period is sensitive at all levels, both nationally, regionally, and internationally, he said.

 

"At the national level, the country is experiencing significant changes with which the foreign policy must be in tune and adapt to all their requirements. Regionally, the spaces to which we belong are experiencing profound changes that call for foreign policy to be more vigilant in the face of their impact,” affirmed Attaf.

 

Regarding the interconnected crises and globalization, as well as the imbalances of "the structure of collective security" in the system of international relations, the current situation, marked by challenges and risks, "requires the mobilization of our foreign policy to ensure the security and stability to which we aspire," he continued.

A minute's silence was observed on this occasion, in tribute to the martyrs of Algeria, including those of Algerian diplomacy, on the eve of the 61st anniversary of Victory Day, celebrated on March 19 each year.