Algerian Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad and African Affairs Ahmed Attaf participated in a high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Right to Development, adopted in 1986. Attaf also attended a ministerial meeting of the African Union's Peace and Security Council on Wednesday, focusing on regional security and terrorist challenges in Africa, and a consultative meeting of Arab Foreign Ministers on Tuesday. Minister Attaf emphasized, "Full and sustainable development places humans, their dignity, and well-being at the heart of development work." He also stated, "Good neighborliness has become an essential condition for achieving collective security in Africa."
Championing the Right to Development
Algerian Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad and African Affairs Ahmed Attaf stated that the right to development "acquires renewed importance today." Attaf cited ongoing poverty, inequalities, mounting debt burdens, and multiple crises and imbalances in the international economic system as reasons for this renewed significance. He stressed that "full and sustainable development places the human being, his dignity, and his well-being at the core of development work," according to a statement. Minister Attaf emphasized the necessity of respecting state sovereignty, their right to determine development priorities and choices, and the right of peoples to self-determination. Attaf also called for strengthening international solidarity and cooperation, alongside reforming the international economic and financial system "in a way that responds more equitably to the needs of developing countries." Algeria supports "the adoption of a legally binding international instrument on the right to development," Attaf affirmed, noting that such a measure would help "strengthen the international legal framework and ensure the full and effective realization of this right."
Securing Africa Through Good Neighborliness
Algerian Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad and African Affairs Ahmed Attaf stated that "good neighborliness has become a fundamental condition for achieving collective security in Africa." Attaf emphasized the need to transition from isolated national responses to coordinated regional action, which he said should be based on dialogue, consultation, and security cooperation. He also noted Algeria's priority in combating terrorism financing and drying up its sources, particularly by countering the exploitation of advanced technologies for terrorist purposes.
Attaf recalled Algeria's approach, which is based on the conviction that security and military solutions alone cannot achieve sustainable security and stability without being coupled with development, reconciliation, and strengthening state institutions. He reviewed Algeria's experience in the Sahel region, citing support for dialogue and reconciliation, strengthening security and border cooperation, and combating terrorism and organized crime, alongside promoting development and regional integration. Attaf also mentioned structural projects such as the Trans-Saharan Highway, the fiber optic network, and the Nigeria-Algeria gas pipeline, which he believes contribute to opening new economic horizons and supporting sustainable security.
Addressing Arab Regional Challenges
Algerian Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad and African Affairs Ahmed Attaf emphasized the necessity of activating joint Arab action. He stated this was particularly key in an international context where selectivity in applying international legitimacy decisions remains a concern. Attaf also noted the importance of returning the Palestinian issue to the forefront of the international agenda, stressing that it should not be reduced solely to its humanitarian dimension.
Algeria reiterated its rejection of turning the Arab region into a theater for proxy wars. Attaf specifically noted this concern "خاصة في ضوء ما تشهده منطقة الخليج العربي من تصعيد" (especially in light of the escalation in the Arabian Gulf region). He further stressed "الضرورة الملحّة لمعالجة الأزمات التي تعصف بكل من السودان واليمن والصومال وليبيا" (the urgent need to address the crises afflicting Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, and Libya). Attaf called for preserving the unity of these nations, supporting national political solutions, and rejecting foreign interventions in their affairs.