France’s Le Drian Urges Cooperation with Algeria after Crisis

Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (R) meets with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (L) in Algiers. (AFP)
Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (R) meets with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (L) in Algiers. (AFP)
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France’s Le Drian Urges Cooperation with Algeria after Crisis

Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (R) meets with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (L) in Algiers. (AFP)
Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (R) meets with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (L) in Algiers. (AFP)

France's top diplomat Jean-Yves Le Drian said cooperation with Algeria is "indispensable" for regional stability, during a visit to the former French colony.

"We are facing regional challenges, first and foremost terrorism," he said late Wednesday after meeting his counterpart Ramtane Lamamra and President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

"So our cooperation on security and for the stabilization of the region is indispensable in the Mediterranean and in Africa."

Le Drian stressed the urgency of "the evolution of the situation in the Sahel and the need to relaunch the transition process in Libya".

France and Algeria have been attempting to improve their ties after a diplomatic crisis.

Algeria had withdrawn its ambassador in October after French President Emmanuel Macron accused Algeria's "political-military system" of rewriting history and fomenting "hatred towards France".

Le Drain had visited in December in order to repair the damage and the French ambassador returned in January.

On Wednesday, the foreign minister said Paris and Algiers were working on reviving bilateral relations "essential for each of our two countries and that we wish to maintain over the long term".

He also said Russia's invasion of Ukraine had "major consequences" for energy in Europe and for food security, including in Algeria.

Algeria is a major exporter of natural gas, which covers over 11 percent of Europe's needs, compared to Russia which makes up about 47 percent.

European countries have been trying to ramp up Algerian exports to reduce their reliance on Russia, but experts say the North African country has limited room for maneuver, partly due to its own soaring domestic needs.

Algeria did however sign a deal on Monday to boost exports to Italy by the Transmid undersea pipelie.



Lebanon Joins Middle East Green Initiative

 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
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Lebanon Joins Middle East Green Initiative

 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister announced that the country has joined the Middle East Green Initiative, launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to mitigate the impact of climate change on the region.

“This is an essential step for Lebanon, especially since our southern villages and towns have been exposed to significant environmental and agricultural damage due to Israeli attacks, which requires cooperation with all of Lebanon's friends,” a statement released by the Lebanese Council of Ministers quoted Mikati as saying.

Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan welcomed Lebanon’s participation in the initiative, confirming that a high committee has been established to ensure the project’s sustainability and facilitate relevant cooperation.

He noted that the timing of the announcement “comes in light of the continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon, and this matter must be drawn to attention, especially since Israel is destroying very large areas, whether agricultural lands, fruit trees or forests.”

Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said that the Middle East Green Initiative has very important goals to plant 40 billion trees across the region and protect the Gulf and the Middle East from climate change, stop land degradation and desertification and find the means to adapt to future challenges.

The Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture estimates that more than 2.8 million square meters of forest and agricultural land were completely burned, while about 6.7 million square meters of agricultural and forest land were partially damaged as a result of Israel’s attacks and its use of internationally-banned incendiary munitions.