Algeria to participate in Paris peace conference

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has nominated his Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ramtane Lamamra, as the country’s envoy to the Paris peace conference to be held on Sunday, Quds Press has reported.

“This conference will give a chance for Algeria to reinforce its steadfast position supportive to the Palestinian cause,” said a ministry statement, “as well as to propose its own vision about the peace process in the Middle East.”

The ministry added its belief that this will also be a chance for Algeria to renew its call for the international community to bear its responsibility for ending the tragedy of the Palestinian people. “It should enable them to gain their inalienable rights on the top of which is an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.”

France is hosting the international conference to discuss peaceful solutions for the Palestine-Israel conflict. Representatives from around 70 countries are expected to participate, although the Israelis have refused to attend. The French government is, therefore, planning to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for a separate meeting at a later date.

The French have been trying to revive the stalled peace process and held a preliminary meeting relating to the conference last June. UN, EU and US representatives, in addition to a large number of Arab states, attended without the participation of the Palestinians and Israelis.