The President of the Council of the Nation, Azzouz Nasri, this Wednesday highlighted the strength of the Algerian-Italian partnership and the convergence of views between Algiers and Rome on major regional and international issues, on the occasion of a courtesy visit by the Italian ambassador to Algeria, Alberto Cutillo, to the headquarters of the upper house of Parliament, thereby illustrating the shared desire to raise bilateral cooperation to a more advanced strategic level.
On this occasion, the President of the Council of the Nation welcomed “the depth and strength of the historical relations uniting Algeria and Italy,” stressing that these relations are rooted “in a common civilizational and human heritage, as well as in the sincere solidarity expressed by the Italian people and its political and intellectual elites during the National Liberation War.”
Mr Nasri also welcomed the positive momentum that has characterized bilateral relations in recent years, particularly following the official visit paid by the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to Rome. He stated that this visit “has injected new momentum into the Algerian-Italian strategic partnership, thanks to the clearly expressed political will of the leaders of both countries to raise cooperation to broader and more inclusive levels.”
The President of the Council of the Nation also highlighted the exchanges he held with the President of the Italian Senate, Ignazio La Russa, in Rome, on the sidelines of his participation, as representative of the President of the Republic, in the work of the Aqaba Process Conference on West Africa. He described this meeting as “an important milestone in strengthening political and parliamentary coordination,” underlining “the central role of parliamentary diplomacy as a complementary lever of bilateral relations and a privileged forum for exchanging expertise and institutional cooperation.”
For his part, the Italian ambassador stated that “Algeria is Italy’s leading economic partner in Africa,” stressing its status as “a strategic partner occupying a central place in Italy’s economic and energy policy.” He praised “the decisive role played by Algeria in supporting Italy’s energy security,” highlighting “Algeria’s constant and responsible commitment in this vital field.”
On this occasion, the Italian diplomat expressed the wish “to diversify and broaden areas of cooperation,” reiterating “his country’s readiness to place its expertise, particularly in the transport and road safety sectors, at Algeria’s disposal.”
In this context of convergence, Mr Nasri highlighted the opportunities offered by the Algerian market, boosted by ongoing economic reforms and the entry into force of the new Investment Code. He noted “Algeria’s interest in developing partnerships with Italian companies,” particularly in industry, agriculture, renewable energy, the circular economy, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups.
At the regional and international levels, both parties stressed the convergence of their positions on priority issues, reaffirming their attachment to the principles of the United Nations Charter, in particular respect for the sovereignty of States and the peaceful settlement of conflicts.
In this regard, the President of the Council of the Nation reiterated “Algeria’s steadfast and unwavering support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.” Addressing the question of Western Sahara, Mr Nasri reaffirmed “Algeria’s principled commitment to the decolonization process and to the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination, in accordance with the resolutions of international legality.”
Furthermore, the discussions touched on developments in the situation in Libya, the Sahel region and the Mediterranean area, with particular emphasis on “the need to prioritize inclusive political solutions, dialogue and the strengthening of regional peace and stability, far from any foreign interference.”