Warns of a possible "overflow" of Moroccan attacks that could lead to a 'casus belli' with Algiers
Warns of a possible "overflow" of Moroccan attacks that could lead to a 'casus belli' with Algiers
In recent days, the Algerian government has consolidated a rapprochement with Italy as a strategic partner in Europe in response to the "narrow and selfish calculations" of Spain, whose government has recently given its support to the Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara, a turn heavily criticized by Algiers.
"Italy is a friendly country that has always been present in the most difficult circumstances and is above all a country with a constant adherence to principled positions on regional issues of common interest, contrary to what we have just experienced with other partners of the region, more experienced in duplicities and narrow and selfish calculations", said the special envoy of the Algerian Government for Western Sahara and the Maghreb countries, Amar Belani, in an interview with the Algerian news portal TSA.
Thus, Belani has defended the projects to "guarantee a gradual increase in the share of Algerian natural gas" in the Italian market "in the short, medium and long term."
These developments depend on pending "technical discussions" to increase natural gas production from "joint projects in Algeria" and to "launch new joint initiatives in Algeria for gas research and production from confirmed geological basins."
On April 11, the Prime Minister of Italy, Mario Draghi, visited Algiers where he signed an agreement for an almost 50 percent increase in imports of Algerian natural gas.
The export boost would make Algeria Italy's top natural gas supplier, replacing Russia, by increasing its shipments by an additional 9-10 billion cubic meters per year by the end of 2022.
Italy received around 21 billion cubic meters of gas from Algeria in 2021, compared to around 29 billion cubic meters from Russia.
RISK OF ARMED CONFLICT WITH MOROCCO
In addition, Belani has warned of a "possible overflow" of Moroccan "warmongering actions" towards Algerian territory since Moroccan forces are attacking "traders and civilians" with the aim of hindering trade between Algeria and Mauritania.
The Algerian ambassador was referring to the death on April 10 of two civilians, a woman and her son, in an attack by a Moroccan drone on a truck in Ain Bentili, on the border between Western Sahara and Mauritania.
Belani recalled that there is an agreement between Algeria and Mauritania to build a road between the Algerian province of Tindouf and the Mauritanian town of Zuerat as an alternative to the road that connects Morocco with Mauritania through Guerguerat, in dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front. Saharan.
"Rabat is aware that the strengthening of trade between Algeria and Mauritania will give the latter country greater room for maneuver in the strategic issue of diversifying its trade flows", Belani pointed out.