General Saïd Chanegriha, Chief of Staff of the People’s National Army, received on Wednesday, 27th September, 2023, at the headquarters of People’s National Army, General Staff Mr. Guido Crosetto, Italian Minister of Defence, who was on a working visit to Algeria at the head of a high-level military delegation.

The reception ceremony began with saluting the national flag, listening to the national anthem, and presenting military honours by formations of various forces of People’s National Army, the Algerian Ministry of National Defence said in a statement earlier this week.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of National Defence, Commanders of the forces and the National Gendarmerie, Chiefs of Departments, and Central Directors from the General staff of People’s National Army and from the Ministry of National Defence, in addition to members of the Italian delegation.

During this meeting, the two parties reviewed the areas of bilateral military cooperation between the armies of the two countries, as well as ways to develop and enhance coordination on issues of common interest, in line with the deep historical relations between both countries. They also discussed the security challenges facing the Mediterranean basin, and exchanged views on various current issues.

On this occasion, General Chanegriha delivered a speech in which he welcomed the Italian Minister of Defence and his accompanying delegation, praising the long-standing and strength of Algerian-Italian relations at all levels. He further stressed that the two countries have the capabilities and resources that would contribute to embodying qualitative and sustainable cooperation.

“This visit falls within the context of the constructive and multi-dimensional movement that characterizes Algerian-Italian relations, within the framework of our common endeavour to strengthen bilateral military cooperation, and raise it further and the distinguished historical relations that bind Algeria and Italy, during Our liberation revolution, and during the years of combating barbaric terrorism, in which Algeria faced the scourge of violent extremism and obscurantism,” he said.

“In view of these historical facts and our shared convictions of the necessity of developing our bilateral cooperation, I am certain that our meeting will be fruitful and bring new horizons for bilateral partnership, knowing that Algeria and Italy have the capabilities and resources that would contribute to opening horizons of qualitative and sustainable cooperation,” he stressed.

General Chanegriha also praised the remarkable diversity of military cooperation between the armies of the two countries, as well as the willingness of People’s National Army to develop bilateral relations and raise them to the level that befits them, especially in light of the current transformations and state of instability that characterize the region.

“At the level of bilateral cooperation, we can say that our military cooperation is distinguished. I assure you of our full readiness to work on consolidating bilateral cooperation programs, which is not only an option, but the current transformations and the state of instability that characterize our region dictate the need to combine our efforts, to calm the situation in countries suffering from the consequences of conflicts, and to help them restore their stability and security,” he added.

For his part, Mr. Guido Crosetto praised the warm reception he and his accompanying delegation received, as well as the strong will he sensed on the Algerian side to strengthen military cooperation relations, in line with the ambitions of the two countries to establish beneficial and fruitful cooperation for both sides.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the two parties exchanged symbolic gifts, after which the Italian Minister of Defence signed the golden book of People’s National Army General Staff.

Upon the arrival of the Italian Minister of Defence at Houari Boumadian International Airport, he was received by Major General Mohamed Salah Ben Bicha, Secretary General of the Ministry of the National Defence. Then the visiting Minister went to Maqam Eshahid where he laid a wreath of flowers and stood in minute’s silence in honour of the righteous martyrs. (Source & Photo © Algerian Ministry of National Defence)