ALGERIAN'S FOREIGN POLICY 

Algeria-South Africa historical relations to be strengthened in various fields

ALGIERS-The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, Naledi Pandor, said Saturday in Algiers that the historical relations between South Africa and Algeria will be strengthened in various fields, stressing the convergence of views between the two countries on support to the Palestinian and Sahrawi causes.

"Relations between the two countries will engage in a new era and will be strengthened in various areas," Naledi Pandor told the press after she met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, Ramtane Lamamra at the headquarters of the ministry in Algiers.

The South African diplomat said that her country "seeks a true partnership with Algeria in various fields," stressing that "South Africa and Algeria have suffered the horrors of colonialism and experienced the same suffering."

"Algeria was always at the side of South Africa during the struggle for emancipation," she said.

In this regard, the South African official said that her talks with Lamamra focused on the Palestinian and Sahrawi issues, stressing that "her country, like Algeria, supports the right of peoples to self-determination and firmly backs Western Sahara and Palestine.

In a statement to the press after the audience granted to her by the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, at the headquarters of the Presidency, the South African minister said that Algeria and South Africa know "well" the meaning of freedom, stressing that this principle "must be enshrined" for "all African peoples (...), including the people of Western Sahara."

"Algeria and South Africa can play important roles on the African continent given their struggle against occupation and their common history. They know very well the meaning of freedom (...) that we enjoy today. We must convey this meaning to all African peoples," she said.