Please be informed that after arriving in Algiers on 7 April and being given a four-hour notice to turn up at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Algeria, I presented the copy of my credentials to His Excellency Ramtane Lamamra, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Algeria on 24 April 2014 (Thursday).
2. After the usual exchange of pleasantries of welcoming and congratulations on the new appointment, the following salient issues were discussed.
2.1 I extended the congratulations on the recently concluded Presidential election in Algeria in behalf of the Government of Malaysia on the reelection of President Bouteflika for his fourth term recently. FM Lamamra acknowledged with appreciation that Malaysia was among the countries which participated as observers during the elections under the ambit of OIC. As you may recalled in my previous reporting, the 3-member Malaysia' Election Commission was part of the OIC led observers acting as a watchdog during the recent election in Algeria apart from the observers dispatched by the African Union, EU and UN Expert Panel.
3.2 FM Lamamra then moved on stating that the bilateral relations between the two countries had been improving given the cooperation forged in a number of fields. However he opined that the cooperation could be strengthened further and substance added including through the exchange of visits and consultations acknowledging that there have been ongoing exchange of visits between the two countries.
3.3 On the international front, FM Lamamra lamented that despite the ending of the Cold War, the international order remained pitted between the group of countries under the influence of the members of the P5 of the UNSC and those seen as taking the other point of view. He enumerated further that on deliberating a particular issue, the P5 member with it veto power would derail the whole process and hence determined the fate of the rest of the members of the UNGA. At this point, I reiterated on Malaysia's bidding and seeking for support for the UNSC non-permanent seat adding that Malaysia's successful bidding would advance the course of the developing country such as Algeria. FM Lamamra then asked if Malaysia would be the only country from the Asia group bidding for the seat of which I affirmed that thus far Malaysia would be the only country bidding from the regional group. He added that Spain would be bidding for the same against another country for the group of European and others.
3.4 With the NAM Ministerial Conference scheduled at the end of next month, FM Lamamra looked forward for Malaysia participation. In reply, I stated that the Ministry would be finalizing Malaysia's participation and would informed the Algerian side in due course.
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4. By presenting the copy of the credentials to FM Lamamra, it would be understood that I could perform my duty and attend official functions as well as receptions including the swearing in ceremony of President Bouteflika on his reelection next Monday on 28 April. On the way out of the meeting room, I reconfirmed with the Director General of Protocol who stated that I can attend the swearing in ceremony for the President next week.
5. With about 20 other Ambassador-designates lining up to present their respective credentials, the Director General for Asia which Malaysia Desk comes under, intimated that the credentials presenting ceremony with the President may not take place anytime soon.