외교부

 
Your Excellency Ambassador Hocine Sahraoui,
Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

"Assalamu Alaikum!"

(** I will speak in English, except the first and last paragraph which I will deliver in French.)

Je suis tres honoré de participer à cette cérémonie qui nous réunit aujourd'hui à l'occasion de la célebration du 60ème anniversaire de la révolution algérienne. Permettez-moi, tout d'abord, de vous adresser mes sincères félicitations au nom du gouvernement et du peuple coréens.

Couple of years ago, when I served as Korean Ambassador to Algeria, I was deeply moved to hear Quassaman, Algerian anthem which means "Pledge". Whenever I listen to the Quassaman, I feel a sense of solemnity as it reminds me of the sacrifice and struggles of Algerian people to regain their national independence.

As you are all aware, under the able leadership of His Excellency President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Algeria is well on the path to national reconciliation and solidarity, while successfully carrying out political and social reforms. Furthermore, Algeria is playing a leading role in dealing with global challenges, including terrorism, to achieve regional development and stability of the Middle East and Africa.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Actually, Korean Government seeks to strengthen further cooperation with the Middle East and Africa, and in this regard, Algeria is a key partner for Korea. Furthermore, North African region, in which Algeria is located, is considered geo-strategically important, by linking the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1990, Korea and Algeria have achieved continued progress in fostering bilateral friendship and cooperation. The "Declaration on a Strategic Partnership between Algeria and Korea" in 2006 was a cornerstone to build much more thriving cooperation between our two countries. Today, a number of Korean companies in such areas as construction, plants, agriculture, and environment are playing a crucial role in expanding cooperation between Algeria and Korea, as well as contributing to the national development of Algeria.

The scope of the cooperation between our two countries has recently broadened to include culture and people-to-people contact. I believe that "La Battaglia bi Algeri" and "La Preuve", two Algerian films shown at the "Arab Film Festival" which was held in 2013 and 2014 by the Korea-Arab Society, were warmly received by Korean audience. At the same time, I know that Ambassador Sahraoui also plays a valuable and active role in enabling Korean people to gain deeper understanding of Algerian culture by holding the exhibition under the title of 'Window into Algeria', and lecturing at Hanyang University.

I look forward to building further upon this friendship, as Korea and Algeria work closely together in pursuit of common prosperity and mutual benefit.

On this auspicious occasion, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to His Excellency Ambassador Hocine Sahraoui for his unparalleled contribution to the development of bilateral relations since he arrived in Korea in 2009.

(** As I said at the beginning, the last paragraph will be delivered in French.)

Tout en réitérant mes sincères félicitations pour ce 60ème anniversaire de la révolution algérienne, je souhaite vivement que les liens d'amitie et de coopération entre nos deux pays ainsi qu'entre nos deux peuples continue d'etre renforcee encore davantage dans les annees a venir.

Je vous remercie et Shukran Jazilran

/끝/