ROME: Italy is “more than a strategic ally for Algeria,” and “did not abandon our country when it went through difficult circumstances,” President Abdelmadjid Tebboune told state TV, adding that Italy was the first European country to establish economic relations with Algeria.
“For over 65 years, even during the war of liberation (from France), Algeria has never had any problems, conflicts or misunderstandings with Italy,” he said.
“Whenever Algeria went through difficult circumstances, it always found Italy nearby, even during the national tragedy,” he added, referring to the civil war in the 1990s.
Tebboune recalled that Alitalia, the former Italian national carrier now replaced by ITA Airways, was the only airline to operate flights to Algiers when all other commercial airlines suspended regular flights to his country following the hijacking of an Airbus in 1994.
Air France flight 8969 was hijacked in Algiers by the terrorist Armed Islamic Group from Dec. 24-26, 1994. Three passengers were killed.
“Some Italian citizens were killed by criminal terrorism with the aim of removing Italy from Algeria,” but this “motivated Italy to further develop its relationship with us,” said Tebboune.
“From Italy we have seen nothing but goodness and goodwill, and the Italians work in silence and do not look for red carpets or anything else,” he added.
“Algeria will now begin joint production projects with Italy in the mechanical, automotive, naval and defense sectors.”
According to the latest available customs data, Italy was the main destination of Algerian exports in the first half of 2021, with a share of 21.83 percent.
On July 18 this year, Algeria and Italy signed 16 agreements and memoranda of cooperation and understanding.
They included a major agreement between Algerian energy giant Sonatrach and Italian company ENI to increase Algerian gas exports.
The Trans-Mediterranean Pipeline, which runs through Tunisia and under the Mediterranean Sea to Sicily, is a key conduit in a strategy leading Algeria to replace Russia this year as the main supplier of gas to Italy.
