Algerian President in Italy Discusses Energy, Renewed Clashes in Libya

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (APZ)
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (APZ)
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Algerian President in Italy Discusses Energy, Renewed Clashes in Libya

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (APZ)
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (APZ)

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune discussed in Italy the European need for gas, the renewed clashes in Libya, illegal migration, the instability in the Sahel region, and the war on terrorism.

Earlier, Tebboune announced that his country was determined to adopt the Italian experience to establish small and medium enterprises.

The Algerian presidency had announced in a statement that Tebboune would start a three-day state visit to Italy on Wednesday at the invitation of his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella.

"This visit is of paramount importance to the historical friendship relations and the development of bilateral ties in various fields, particularly business cooperation. The visit is also part of the new vision of the two heads of state and their willingness to give a fresh impetus to dialogue and strategic cooperation between the two neighboring and sisterly countries," said the statement.

It also aims to create a new dynamic for dialogue and strategic cooperation between the two neighboring and friendly countries.

The statement did not refer to the matters discussed between Tebboune and Italy’s President and Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

However, diplomatic sources confirmed that several issues would be addressed, namely the partnership with Italy to transfer its experience in small and medium enterprises.

Algeria wants SMEs as a pillar for its economic launch after it pledged to supply all of Rome's gas needs to replace Russian gas that was suspended due to the Ukraine crisis.

Furthermore, the sources highlighted that both Algeria and Italy are concerned about the situation in Libya and the return of hostilities between the warring parties.

They agreed on the need to hold general elections as the only solution to restore stability in the country.

On the issue of illegal migrants, the two sides explained that Algeria wants to boost its cooperation with Italy to stop the flow of illegal migrants, which has become a source of great concern for the two governments.

Meanwhile, the Italian Ambassador to Algeria, Giovanni Polizzi, stressed the importance of Tebboune's visit to Italy, noting that the intensity and frequency of bilateral visits at the highest level certainly reflect the excellent level of bilateral relations between Italy and Algeria.

In an interview with the El-Khabar newspaper, Polizzi recalled many important examples of Italian investments in Algeria.

"There are important examples of Italian investments in Algeria: I am naturally thinking of the hydrocarbons sector (with the main role of Eni), but also of the steel industry, defense, or, more recently, renewable energies," said the ambassador.

Polizzi added that Italy is committed to increasing the volume of investments and that Rome follows with interest the developments after implementing the new investment law, hoping to improve the business climate.



Lebanese Begin Grim Task of Recovering Bodies from Rubble

 Rescuers use an excavator as they search for dead bodies through the rubble of a destroyed house, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Ainata village, south Lebanon. (AP)
Rescuers use an excavator as they search for dead bodies through the rubble of a destroyed house, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Ainata village, south Lebanon. (AP)
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Lebanese Begin Grim Task of Recovering Bodies from Rubble

 Rescuers use an excavator as they search for dead bodies through the rubble of a destroyed house, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Ainata village, south Lebanon. (AP)
Rescuers use an excavator as they search for dead bodies through the rubble of a destroyed house, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Ainata village, south Lebanon. (AP)

In the southern Lebanon border villages of Bint Jbeil and Ainata, where fierce fighting between Israel and Hezbollah fighters took place, rescuers used excavators began searching on Wednesday for bodies under the rubble.

A woman in Ainata wrapped in black cried as she held a portrait her grandson, a Hezbollah fighter, who was killed in the fighting, as she waits for rescuers to recover his body from a destroyed home.

The smell of death filled the air and several dead bodies could be seen inside houses and between trees. In the town of Kfar Hammam, rescuers recovered four bodies, according to Lebanese state media.

Meanwhile, families and politicians visited the graves of Hezbollah fighters buried in eastern Lebanon's Baalbek region.

Families with tears in their eyes paid respects to the dead and celebratory gunshots could be heard in the background Wednesday, the first day of a ceasefire between the group and Israel.

“The resistance (Hezbollah) will stay to defend Lebanon,” Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Mokdad told reporters while visiting the graves. “We tell the enemy that the martyrs thwarted their plans for the Middle East.”

Several other Hezbollah members of parliament were present.