european parliament

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
DELEGATION FOR RELATIONS WITH THE MAGHREB COUNTRIES AND THE
ARAB MAGHREB UNION
5th Interparliamentary Meeting EP/Algeria
Report on the visit to Algeria by a working group from the Delegation for relations with
the Maghreb countries and the AMU from 18 to 22 May 2001
1. Introduction
The visit took place in a particular and, in some ways, delicate context.
The weeks leading up to the visit saw the first phase of the ‘events in Kabilia’, during which
dozens of people were killed and hundreds injured.
The EP had adopted an urgent motion for a resolution condemning these events and severely
criticising the security forces and the Algerian authorities the day before our departure.
Nevertheless, the working group of the Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and
the AMU was well received and held long, frank and friendly talks with the Algerian
authorities: the Prime Minister, the Foreign, Finance, Religious Affairs and Justice Ministers, the
President of the National People’s Assembly, all the parliamentary groups, and representatives of
human rights organisations, victims of terrorism, relatives of missing persons, women, editors
and journalists of the country’s leading newspapers and religious authorities.
2. The main issues raised
2.1. The events in Kabylia
Discussion of the tragic events in Kabylia obviously dominated almost all the meetings we had
in Algiers. It was not only a terrible incident, but – as demonstrated by the most recent events – a
major crisis in a country which has been suffering serious problems for a number of years.
On the one hand the very seriousness of the events is the explanation. In the towns in Kabylia
dozens of demonstrators, the vast majority of them young people and adolescents, had been shot
dead by the gendarmerie in the previous weeks. Hundreds of people were injured.
Understandably this caused enormous distress in Algiers.
The visit by the Delegation’s working group was held in the very week that the EP adopted an
urgent resolution severely condemning the crushing of the demonstrations and the dozens of
subsequent deaths, which it called ‘murders’. This led to angry protests by exponents of the
government majority and the government itself. Once again there was talk of ‘interference’.
Furthermore, the reference to the ‘Berber people’ in the EP’s resolution prompted criticism from
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most of our interlocutors, both those in government and those in opposition – with few
exceptions. All of them emphatically asserted their belief in the unity of the Algerian people and
nation.
The predominant interpretation of the events in Kabylia was that the underlying cause was not
specific to the region. The catalyst was the death of a student, Massinissa Guermah, whilst in
custody in a police station, but the root cause of the protest was to be found in social malaise, the
problems of poverty, unemployment, shortage of housing, etc, as well as - according to some of
those we spoke to - the frustration as regards language and identity felt by the amazigh-speaking
Algerians, who are in a majority in the Kabylia region.
Discussion of the basic causes was very important in the view of our interlocutors, who felt that
if it was not a question of identity but socio-economic situations prevailing throughout the
country (not just in a specific region or among a specific population) the protest was likely to
extend to the whole country. Hence there was a degree of contradiction among some of our
Algerian partners, who on the one hand denied the specific nature of the protest, but on the other
had to acknowledge it in order to deny that the protest might spread.
In response to the criticisms expressed in the EP’s urgent resolution on the events in Kabylia, the
chairman of the delegation said that his task was not to criticise or interpret the EP’s resolutions,
but he was convinced that the vast majority of his colleagues did not doubt the unity of the
Algerian nation.
Two committees of inquiry had been set up to investigate the events in Kabylia, one at the
initiative of the President of the Republic, the other by the National Assembly.
President Bouteflika had appointed an eminent legal expert, Professor Assad, as the chairman of
the first committee. After the interview during which the President assigned him this task,
Professor Assad said that he had ‘absolute carte blanche’ in carrying out his mission. In our talks
with him, Professor Assad emphatically confirmed this – he was totally free to appoint the
members of the committee and to carry out his work.
He had invited the six editors of the main independent newspapers to be members of the
committee of inquiry and three of them had accepted. He had also included legal experts and
members of various professions, as well as a number of young university lecturers from Kabylia,
whom he referred to as his ‘men on the spot’.
Professor Assad made a good impression on the delegation members. He estimated the number
of deaths at ‘between 60 and 80', but at the end of our discussion stressed this figure, which was
somewhat higher than that admitted by the authorities. He described his task in highly political
terms; he did not want a low-profile investigation of the kind carried out by ‘a small-town lawyer
or a district judge’, but rather wished to ascertain the truth of the matter and the causes. In a
country where ‘interference’ and ‘conspiracies’ are common, Professor Assad felt that the
crucial question was to what extent the bloody events in Kabylia were a spontaneous reaction
and the response the result of security forces being overwhelmed by events, or whether the
events had been ‘orchestrated’ by somebody…
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The representatives of the National Assembly and civil society we talked to were divided in their
opinions when asked to predict the outcome of the committees of inquiry. On the one hand,
especially among representatives of civil society, there was a great deal of scepticism, in view of
the poor results obtained by previous committees, especially the one appointed to investigate the
murder of Budiaf. On the other hand, those who supported the President and the government
defended their determination to find out the truth and referred to the massive response to the
initial visits and contacts in Kabylia on the part of members of the parliamentary committee. The
parliamentary representatives of the FFS (Social Forces Front) said that an international
committee of inquiry needed to be set up.
2.2. The situation as regards security and ‘civil accord’
Members of the government we spoke to felt that there was a marked improvement in security,
especially in the cities, although they acknowledged that there was still terrorism in rural areas.
The delegation was able to confirm this positive trend during its stay in Algiers. According to the
Minister for Religious Affairs ‘two or three more years of terrorist action’ were foreseeable. The
Algerian authorities stressed their request for European support and solidarity, since, in their
view, the terrorist networks were still receiving guidance and logistic support from people in
Europe. In response to questions from a delegation member regarding the current situation of the
FIS, members of the government said they were convinced that it had ‘almost died out’.
After being elected in April 1999 President Bouteflika started to develop what had been one of
the main points of his campaign – the policy of ‘civil accord’. Presented as a set of measures
(basically a restricted amnesty) to achieve peace and reconciliation in the country, the policy
allowed a number of radical fundamentalists involved in the activities of terrorist groups to be
reintegrated into normal life.
This policy did not manage to put an end to terrorist activity, but reduced it. Various groups did
not accept the authorities’ proposals. There were also reactions from relatives of victims of
terrorism and other people affected. Our delegation perceived a fairly widespread feeling of
malaise regarding this issue, which emerged in response to signs that President Bouteflika might
extend this political orientation in future towards a ‘national accord’ which would broaden the
spectrum of dialogue for peace. Many of those we spoke to expressed profound opposition to the
‘impunity’ of terrorists and commented on the problems of local tension caused by the return of
the fundamentalists allowed by government measures and their day-to-day coexistence with the
victims of terrorism or their families.
However, we were deeply moved by the fact that the associations of families of missing persons
(including the wife of an FIS MP who had disappeared 10 years ago) and the association of
victims of terrorism (including the widow of a lawyer murdered by the fundamentalists) attended
one of our meetings and it perhaps signified the beginning of reconciliation in Algerian society
after so many years of civil war.
2.3. Reform of the Penal Code and press freedom
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During our stay in Algiers, the reform of the Penal Code and the freedom of the press, which had
just been debated in the national Assembly, was the subject of keen debate. The Algerian
authorities, in particular the Minister of Justice, Mr Ahmed OUYAHIA, emphatically maintained
that the Algerian press was among the freest in the world and that the aim of the planned reforms
was to protect individuals and institutions from possible defamation and other abuse. The
Minister justified the amendments to the Penal Code, pointing out that they had been adopted by
a large majority and, in fact, reproduced elements of French law.
On the other hand, during a meeting with journalists and private newspaper editors
(representatives of the State press had been invited, but declined to take part), our interlocutors
criticised the changes, interpreting them as a severe threat to the very survival of the media,
complained that they were subject to pressure and that the revision of the Penal Code, in
particular the three articles concerning the potential offences of defamation, libel and slander
against the State, could, if applied arbitrarily, destroy the free and independent press. They said
that in the context of division and weakness in businesses, economic sanctions could lead to the
closure of newspapers. During the days following this meeting various demonstrations were held
by journalists from the independent press.
The free Algerian press played a leading role during the most difficult years of the terrorist
offensive and many journalists paid with their lives (60 journalists and 105 print workers). The
current situation must also be seen from this point of view.
2.4. Human rights
According to official figures, there are 4 607 missing persons. We were told that many families
had received explanations from the authorities denying any responsibility on the part of the
police, the army or other government authority. The number of people who had disappeared
during the previous decade of violence could be anything between 4 000 and 8 000 and the
representatives of the families of missing persons were convinced that the security forces and the
army were implicated.
The government representatives pointed out the contradiction between the European concern
about human rights and the reluctance to take decisive action against fundamentalist terrorism. In
the most difficult years of this struggle, they said, Europe left them to their own devices and
waited a long time to take any action against the terrorist cells operating in various European
countries.
The representatives of the Socialist Forces Front (FFS) said that it was unacceptable for the
international community to offer the regime support and called for an international committee of
inquiry into the recent events in Kabylia to be set up.
2.5. The economic and social situation
We have already mentioned the extremely difficult social situation, which basically explains the
outbreak of violence in Kabylia. It started just before a special plan for economic revival was
announced for the period 2001-2004, intended to enable the country to achieve a growth rate of 6
– 7%, reduce the debt by around $ 22 billion and the debt servicing to about 20% of export
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revenue. This plan, accompanied by a reform of the education and justice systems, is one of the
government’s priorities. The possible effect of its introduction was called into question by the
outbreak of protest. The government is trying to ensure that macroeconomic equilibrium is
maintained and to support growth by reforming public undertakings and liberalising the
economy. Its ability to carry out these reforms will be the crucial issue. Without it, the problem
of unemployment will continue to grow irreversibly (it is already dramatic, in a country where
the vast majority of the population is young).
3. The prospects for the AMU and Western Sahara
The representatives of the Algerian government showed great interest in the revival of Maghreb
unity through the institutions of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU). A meeting of Foreign
Ministers of the AMU had been held recently and they agreed to reactivate the various
committees and structures of the AMU. The dispute over Western Sahara was discussed at the
meeting, which the Moroccan Minister did not attend, although he indicated, in an interview, that
this issue could not be side-stepped.
The Algerian authorities reaffirmed their support for the self-determination of the Saharawi
people and the questions concerning their opinion on the ‘third way’ demonstrated their
rejection. Nevertheless they insisted that the two sides directly involved in the conflict must talk
and negotiate directly. They reiterated on several occasions their desire for direct dialogue
between the Moroccan authorities and the Polisario Front. At a certain point the Foreign Minister
stated that any agreement must also meet with his country’s approval.
Our impression was that without progress in the Western Sahara conflict it was very difficult to
achieve substantial progress in Maghreb integration. Despite this, we were told that relations
between Algeria and Morocco were being intensified and preparations were being made for a
summit between President Bouteflika and the King of Morocco, Mohamed VI.
4. Relations with the EU and the Association Agreement
Despite criticisms by members of the government and the opposition about certain aspects of the
development of the Barcelona Process (especially with regard to the amount of MEDA II
funding and the cumbersome nature of the MEDA programme procedures), all those we spoke to
(including the representatives of Islamic parties) felt that it was an essential framework which
should be not only maintained but also strengthened.
Negotiations for the Association Agreement between Algeria and the Union were making
reasonable progress and we were told that the Algerian side expected to conclude the
negotiations before the end of 2001. They felt that progress needed to be made in the dismantling
of tariffs and the granting of visas. More generally, they complained that it was difficult for their
partners to take all Algeria’s specific needs on board. They reaffirmed that the EU should
guarantee people freedom of movement.
5. Conclusions
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5.1. It was clearly necessary to intensify relations between the EP and Algeria as part of the
context of solidarity. In the Algerian view (including all the sectors and different points of
view we heard) Europe (and the European Parliament in particular) is too hasty in judging
and too slow in providing support and aid.
5.2. The process of economic reforms was slow and contradictory. Despite having talked to
highly qualified people with sound democratic convictions, known to be patriotic, we could
not help gaining the impression that the atmosphere in the country, the distortions and
traumas of the last decade and an incomplete agenda for democratisation had hampered the
process of transition to a more modern and transparent economy. In a country rich in
resources, these problems generate dual tension. In addition to unemployment and material
difficulties, there is also the feeling that the government is unable to introduce the reforms
vital for ensuring a ‘virtuous circle’ of economic growth, efficiency, transparency and
administrative modernisation. The association with the EU should develop in a .……..
framework.
5.3. It is very difficult to forecast how the political situation in Algeria will develop. Many of our
Algerian partners said that there were all the ingredients for a large-scale explosive social
and political situation in the country, because of the desire for social changes and freedom.
After our visit there was increased mobilisation, with a major demonstration in Algiers,
which created serious problems for the authorities. However, political fragmentation,
divisions in society and an atmosphere of general distrust (the Minister for Justice and
Secretary-General of the RND told us that ‘in Algeria a breakdown in trust is at the root of
all crises’) make it impossible to identify any clear trends for the future. In addition to this
uncertainty, there is the prospect of elections, due to be held within 9 to 12 months.
5.4. The majority of those we talked to, although they dealt with a wide range of different
topics, agreed on the need for change in the future, in order to meet the demands of the
population, achieve greater national consensus and full democratic legitimacy, carry out
essential economic and social reforms and bring about peace.
Annex
Meetings with members of the National Assembly and members of the Algerian
government
The National Assembly’s delegations for relations with European
The chairman of the committee for external relations, Mr Abdelhamid SI AFIF
The chairman of the committee for economic affairs
Chairmen and vice-chairmen of all the parliamentary groups
The Vice-President of the National Assembly, Mr Abderrezak MEBARKI
The President of the National Assembly, Mr Abdelkader BENSALAH
The chairman and members of the parliamentary committee of inquiry into the events in Kabylia
The chairman of the committee of inquiry, Mr ASSAD
The Prime Minister, Mr Ali BENFLIS
The Minister of Finance, Mr Abdelatif BENACHENOU
The Minister for Religious Affairs, Mr Bouabdellah GHOLAMALLAH
The Minister for Justice, Mr Ahmed OUYAHIA
The Foreign Minister, Mr Abdelaziz BELKHADEM
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The National Observatory for Human Rights: Mr Rezag BARA, Chairman and Mr BOUCETTA,
Secretary-General
Meetings with representatives of civil society
Belkhenchir Foundation, Mrs Fadela BELKHENCHIR
Mrs Fathma N’SOUMEUR and Mrs Ourida CHOUAKI
SOS Femmes en Détresse, Dr BENHABIB
Rassemblement algérien des femmes démocrates, Mrs. Zazi SADOU and Mrs Kheira DEKALI
Comité national contre l'oubli et la trahison, Mr Khelthoum ZINOU
Collectif Maghreb Egalité, Mrs Nadia Aït ZAÏ
Paix et Développement, Mrs Lila OUBOUSA and Mrs Yasmina CHOUAKI
Ligue algérienne de la défense des droits de l'homme (LADDH)
chairman, Sr. Ali YAHIA and vice-chairman Mr HOCINE
Ligue algérienne des droits de l'homme (LADH)
Mr Ghechir BOUDJAMAA
Comité de coordinatión pour la verité et la justice
Mr Djemil BENRABAH
Association des familles des disparus, Mrs Eighil LILS
Archbishop of Algiers, Mons. Henri TESSIER
Caritas Algérie, Mons. Denis GONZALES
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PARLEMENT EUROPEEN
DELEGATION POUR LES RELATIONS AVEC LES PAYS DU MAGHREB
ET L'UNION DU MAGHREB ARABE
5ème rencontre interparlementaire
Alger
18-22 mai 2001
PROJET DE PROGRAMME
Vendredi 18 mai
Arrivée des membres de la délégation
Accueil par M. Abdelhamid SI AFIF, Président de la Commission des
Affaires Etrangères, de la coopération et de l'Emigration de l'APN
Installation à l'hôtel "El Djazair"
Dîner de travail et briefing organisé par l'Ambassadeur de Suède
Samedi 19 mai
09h00-12 h 00
12h30
14h15-14h45
14h50-15h20
15h20-15h55
16h15-17h15
17h15-17h45
17h50-18h20
18h25-18h55
19h00-19h30
Entretiens entre une délégation de l'APN et la délégation
parlementaire européenne conduite par M. Raimon Obiols y Germa,
Président de la Délégation pour les relations avec les pays du
Maghreb et l'UMA au Parlement européen
Déjeuner à l'APN
Rencontre avec le Groupes parlementaire des Indépendants
Rencontre avec le Groupes parlementaire du Rassemblement pour la
Culture et la Démocratie (RCD)
Rencontre avec le Groupes parlementaire du Front des Forces
Socialistes (FFS)
Audience de M. Ali BENFLIS, Chef du Gouvernement
Rencontre avec le Groupes parlementaire du Mouvement Ennahda
(MN)
Rencontre avec le Groupes parlementaire du parti du Front de
Liberation nationale (FLN)
Rencontre avec le Groupes parlementaire´du Mouvement de la
Société pour la Paix (MSP)
Rencontre avec le Groupes parlementaire du Rassemblement National
Démocratique (RND)
Dimanche 20 mai
09 h 00
10 h 00
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Rencontre au Conseil de la Nation
Rencontre avec M Bouabdellah GHOLAMALLAH, Ministre des
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11 h 30
13 h 30
15 h 00
17h30
20 h 00
Affaires Religieuses et Habous
Rencontre avec les membres de la commission d’enquête - Kabilie
Déjeuner de presse offert par M. Obiols, Président de la Délégation du
Parlement Européen
Rencontre avec M. Ahmed OUYAHIA, Ministre d'Etat, Ministre de la
Justice
Rencontre avec M. Abdelaziz BELKHADEM, Ministre d'Etat,
Ministre des Affaires Etrangères
Dîner offert par M. Abderrezak MEBARKI, Vice-Président de
l'Assemblée Populaire Nationale
Lundi 21 mai
09h00
Rencontre avec M Abdelatif BENACHENOU, Ministre des Finances
10h00
- Fondation Belkhenchir
- Fathma N'Soumeur, Mme Ourida CHOUAKI
- SOS Femmes en détresse, Dr. BENHABIB
- Rassemblement algérien des Femmes démocrates, Mme Zazi
SADOU et Mme Kheira DEKALI
- Mme Aït ZAÏ, avocate
11h00
Ligue algérienne de la Défense des Droits de l'Homme (LADDH),
Président : M. Ali YAHIA, Vice-Président : M. HOCINE,
Ligue algérienne des Droits de l'Homme (LADH),
M. Ghechir BOUDJAMAA.
12h00
Comité de Coordination pour la Vérité et la Justice,
M. Djemil BENRABAH
Association des Familles de disparus, Mme Eighil LILA
15h00
Audience de M Abdelkader BENSALAH, Président de l'APN
17h00
Archévèque, Mgr. Henri TESSIER
Caritas Algérie, Mgr. Denis GONZALES
18h00
Observatoire national des Droits de l'Homme, M. Rezag BARA Président, M. BOUCETTA, secrétaire général
20h00
Dîner offert par M. Abdelkader BENSALAH,
Président de l'APN
Mardi 22 mai
Départ de la délégation parlementaire
PARLEMENT EUROPEEN
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DELEGATION POUR LES RELATIONS AVEC LES PAYS DU MAGHREB ET
L'UNION DU MAGHREB ARABE
5ième rencontre Parlement Européen/Algérie, Algiers 18-22 mai 2001
Listes des Participants
Députés
Groupe
Pays
Commissions
Mr Raimon OBIOLS I GERMA,
Président
PSE
Espagne
des affaires étrangères, des droits de
l’homme, de la sécurité commune et de
la politique de défense
Mr Jorge Salvador HERNANDEZ
MOLLAR,
PPE
Espagne
des libertés et des droits des citoyens,
de la justice et des affaires intérieures
Verts/ALE
France
de l’emploi et des affaires sociales
Mme Yasmine BOUDJENAH
GUE
France
de développement et de la coopération
M Hugues MARTIN
PPE
France
des affaires étrangères, des droits de
l’homme, de la sécurité commune et de
la politique de défense
de la pêche
commission temporaire sur le système
d'interception Echelon
Mme Pasqualina NAPOLETANO
PSE
Italy
des affaires étrangères, des droits de
l’homme, de la sécurité commune et de
la politique de défense
1er Vice-Président
Mrs Hélène FLAUTRE,
2ème Vice-Président
Abréviations
PPE: Groupe du Parti Populaire Européen (Démocrates-Chrétiens) et Démocrates Européens
PSE: Groupe du Parti des Socialistes européens
ELDR: Groupe du parti européen des libéraux, démocrates et réformateurs
Verts/ALE: Groupe des Verts/Alliance Libre européenne
GUE/NGL: Groupe confédéral de la Gauche unitaire européenne/Gauche verte nordique
./.
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Secrétariat des Délégations interparlementaires
Mr Christian CHOPIN, Administrateur principal
Ms Morag DONALDSON, Assistante administrative
Interprétation
Ms Agnès BERNARD
Ms Erro LACALLE
M. Enrique QUIJANO
Agents des Groupes Politiques
Ms Teresa MOLERES, Conseiller groupe PSE
M. Claude TALEB, Conseiller groupe VERTS
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