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Algerian President: Algeria Will Overcome All Challenges and Difficulties | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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President Abdelaziz Bouteflika gestures during a swearing-in ceremony in Algiers April 28, 2014. REUTERS/Louafi Larbi


Algiers – President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika said on Saturday that the country was able to achieve national unity and inclusive reconciliation. He called on the Algerian people to go massively to the polls in the legislative elections of May 4.

On the occasion of the National Day of the Martyr, Mohamed Ali Boughazi, Bouteflika’s advisor, read a message on behalf of the president in which he said that Algeria will overcome all challenges and difficulties, adding that the Algerian youths are aware and will not follow those who want to destabilize the country and spread strife.

“As we are celebrating our country’s glorious history on this National Martyr Day, our people are getting ready for the legislative elections to vote for their representatives at the People’s National Assembly, and I seize this opportunity to call on the children of our country to exert their right to choose their deputies by going massively to the polls,” Bouteflika added.

The president reiterated that the Algerian people’s free and sovereign choice will be respected within the framework of the Constitution and Law.

He added that the sovereignty, right to preside our country, and freedom of individuals]cdfr are the fruit of heavy sacrifices made by one and a half million martyrs who died in order for Algeria to live and its people enjoy the benefits of liberty and independence.

Former Prime Minister Ali Benflis, President of Talaïe El Hourriyet, also spoke on the occasion of Martyr Day during a ceremony organized by the Territorial Party Office in Oran.

Benlfis said that if the martyr returned today he would be overwhelmed with anguish at the sight of Algeria and he would be in despite to see that freedoms are not achieved.

“If the martyr came back to us today, he would be in despair, he who has never despaired, to see that rights, freedoms and citizenship of which he sacrificed his life to impose in our country, are not achieved,” Benlfis stated.

Benflis, who opposes Bouteflika, said that even in 21st century, Algeria is still an archaic country and hasn’t developed economically or socially.

He stressed that: “If the martyr came back to us, today he would have many reasons to regret and anguish the unfortunate fate of our country.”