ALGERIAN'S FOREIGN POLICY 

"We do not support any side except for Libyan people," says Lamamra

NEW YORK (United Nations)- Algeria is equidistant from belligerents in Libya and does not support any side except for the Libyan people, said Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad Ramtane Lamamra.

"It is false, Algeria does not support any part in Libya except for the Libyan people," said Lamamra in an interview granted to CNN International on the sidelines of his participation in the 76th UN General Assembly.

"If there is a country in the region which is equidistant from all the (protagonists) in Libya, it is precisely Algeria, so I think that this should be corrected," he affirmed in his response to a question on allegations against Algeria, according to which Algiers is not an "honest intermediary" in the settlement process of the crisis in Libya as it supports a side opposed to the current authorities.

Algeria succeeded in convincing Libya's neighboring countries about the priority of the departure of mercenaries and terrorists in Libya without causing disturbances in the region.

"We have recently organized a meeting bringing together the neighboring countries of Libya and I think that this meeting was successful. We managed to create a consensus among these countries about the importance of the departure of mercenaries and terrorists (but) without destabilizing the region's countries," said the minister.

"We are on the side of the Libyan people, authorities and government and we will do everything possible for the holding of the elections (legislative and presidential) on time in order to guarantee democracy in Libya (...) and so that this country regains its position in the region as a key player."

Foreign Minister underlined that Algeria is "also a key player in the Sahel region."