Speech of His Excellency Mr. Ambassador Ali MOKRANI on the occasion of the 60 th anniversary of Algeria’s independence and the establishment of Algeria-Hungary diplomatic relations

It is a particular pleasure and privilege to welcome you at this double celebration on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Algeria’s independence and the establishment of diplomatic relations between Algeria and Hungary.
I would like to thank each one of you for having accepted our invitation and sharing with us this special double celebration. I am delighted that after the COVID-19 pandemics, we could finally organize a physical gathering and especially that it coincides with this wonderful opportunity.
The 05th of July is a very important, significant date in the Algerian nation’s history, as it marks the advent of a free and sovereign Algerian state, after 132 years of French colonization. The 05th of July 1962 is also considered as Youth Day in honor of the huge sacrifice made by the Algerian youth in the struggle for the liberation of their homeland.
Right after gaining independence, Algeria embarked on a development process as a result of which, 60 years later, the country is now ranked among the emerging countries.
These six decades on the path of growth and development culminated, in 2020, in the adoption of the new Constitution which led to the emergence of the New Algeria, consolidating democratic achievements, freedom, social inclusion with contribution to peace, living together and Sustainable Development Goals, under the leadership of the President of the Republic H.E.Mr. Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE.
Algerian people enjoy freedom of expression and social rights through free education, health care, social housing, unemployment benefit and job creation. Algeria opted for an inclusive economic and social development by providing equal opportunities and a generalized scheme of benefits regarding the country’s revenues, particularly from hydrocarbons.
Algeria, the largest country in Africa with a size of a continent, has all the infrastructure facilities at regional level, illustrated firstly by the Trans-Sahara Highway that will connect Algiers with Abuja and serve as an economic corridor linking Tunisia, Mali, Chad and Niger, in the framework of a regional integration project aiming to facilitate trade within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to which Algeria joined and thus, at the junction of Africa and Europe, became a gateway towards Africa.

Secondly, the Trans-Sahara gas pipeline project between Algeria and Nigeria has been recently relaunched. This would be highly beneficial for the reinforcment of energy cooperation between Africa and Europe especially in the current energy security context.
Thirdly, the fibre optic project Algiers-Abuja with the aim to strengthen the use of digital solutions, key element for development, as shown during the COVID-19 pandemics.
Algeria has the largest oil company in Africa, Sonatrach and has large reserves in gas resources and renewable energies. In addition to these assets, with its market and abundant skilled labor, my country is suitable for fruitful business partnerships and foreign direct investments (FDIs) especaially due to its new investment law.
On the diplomatic scene, Algeria advocates for, and acts in favor of peace and mediation in resolving conflicts, supports the right to self determination as it is for Western Sahara and the Palestine issue. Algeria is fully committed for a peaceful solution in Libya, Mali and for the stabilization of the Sub-Saharan neighboring countries. Algeria supports African Solutions for African problems. My country is preparing to host, this coming November, the Arab Summit and the Arab Presidency.
Algeria’s candidacy for a non permanent seat at the UN Security Council for the periode 2024-2025 is a testimony for it’s willingness to contribute to international peace and security and to the enhancement of multilateral relations under the system of the United Nations.
As you may know, Algeria, belongs to the Maghreb, the Arab world and to Africa at the same time, and aims to strengthen its neighborly links and cooperation with Europe, with which it is closely connected geographically and linked by historical ties and human relations, economic interests, with an association agreement with the EU as well by common challenges in terms of security and development.
Today’s celebration is all the more important as it coincides with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Algeria and Hungary marked by traditional frienship and cooperation the foundations of which date back to the multifaceted support offered by Hungary during the Algerian struggle for independence.
Hungary voted in favor of the Algerian issue at the UN, provided medical aid, the Radio of Budapest broadcasted the program ’Voice of Algeria’ and the heads of the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic (GPRA) were received in Hungary.
After gaining independence, Hungary contributed to Algeria’s reconstruction by sending experts and its companies who were involed in hydraulic dam, hospital, housing and road construction projects. Back then, Hungary offered scholarships to Algerian students and this tradition continues today in the framework of the Stipendium Hungaricum program, enhancing through it people-to-people relations.
Among Algerians, Hungary is best known for the construction of the Algiers’s stadium, which also bears the name of July 05th , date that we are celebrating today. This stadium was modelled on the Puskás Arena, formerly called ’Népstadion’ in Budapest.
Our political relations are excellent, marked by several exchange of visits between the leaders of the two countries. Thanks to the establishment of a Joint Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation on the 6th of March 2012, there exists a legal framework furthermore, several sectoral and thematic agreements were signed in the recent years.
Preparations are underway for the holding, in Budapest, of the 3rd session of this joint commission and the 2nd session of the Joint Business Council. Discussions are currently going on with the aim of further strengthening cooperation in several areas of common interest such as water management, energy security, environment, processing industries, agirculture, aquaculture, tourism, healthcare, sports, culture, archives, space, technology, nuclear energy, scientific and technological research.
I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to the representatives of Hungarian cultural institutions, universities and companies present here tonight for their collaboration and for the promotion of cooperation and partnership with their Algerian partners.
This year we also celebrate the 30th anniversary of Algeria-Slovenia diplomatic ties as I am covering this friendly country from Budapest. I thank my Colleague Ambassador of Slovenia and his Spouse for their honourable presence here tonight.
As the holidays are approaching, I would like to wish everyone excellent summer holidays and a good rest, while sincerely hoping that I will have the pleasure and honor to receive you again in the future.
Thank you for your kind attention and now I invite you to taste some of the Algerian cuisine and enjoying some students music performance and hungarians songs, I express my thanks to the managers of Benczur hotel for the quality of their services and the facilities offered for this double celebration.