"Spain strongly believes in bilateral cooperation based on mutual trust and respect. In our respective departments cooperation is key," Grande-Marlaska said in his meeting with the Minister of Interior, Local Communities and Territorial Planning of the Algerian Democratic and Popular Republic, which has signed this approach.
The two holders of the Interior portfolio have met to exchange information and continue advancing in matters of mutual interest, such as the fight against irregular immigration, terrorism and organized crime, as well as cooperation in the field of civil protection and Road safety.
Grande-Marlaska has highlighted "the concern about the human dimension of the migration phenomenon" with which both countries face the challenge of irregular arrivals through the Mediterranean and the fight against human trafficking networks. "Our goal should be to prevent the loss of human lives," recalled the acting Interior Minister.
Grande-Marlaska has celebrated the intense and fruitful cooperation of both countries in border control work and reminded Dahmoune that Spain is willing to continue collaborating with Algeria by strengthening those areas where the Spanish experience can add value to the effective work that Algerian security authorities and authorities develop.
Fight against terrorism, civil protection and traffic
On his second official trip to Algeria as Minister of the Interior, Grande-Marlaska has opted to "continue strengthening" relations with a country that is an essential ally also in the fight against international terrorism and organized crime, and has insisted that "The exchange of information and operational cooperation between the Security Forces of both countries are essential to address these threats."
In this regard, he highlighted the excellent bilateral cooperation in police training, and expressed the will of the Ministry of Interior to continue having members of the Algerian Security Forces in the courses taught by the department.
Other matters of common interest that have been discussed at the meeting are cooperation in civil protection and road safety, matters in which frequent contacts and reciprocal visits are made.
On the occasion of the plans to strengthen the collaboration in these two fields, the General Director of Traffic, Pere Navarro, and the General Director of Civil Protection and Emergencies, Alberto Herrera, have accompanied Grande-Marlaska to Algiers and held bilateral meetings with their counterparts
Grande-Marlaska has highlighted before Dahmoune the advances in cooperation in civil protection matters, which have been consolidated with the signing between the Spanish and Algerian Civil Protection Schools of an Administrative Agreement for cooperation in training tasks.
In this same field, he has proposed to convene the second meeting of the Spanish-Algerian Joint Commission on Civil Protection during the first half of 2020 in Madrid.
Regarding road safety, both ministers have defined as "an enriching experience" the twinning developed between 2015 and 2017 within the framework of the European Union to strengthen Algerian road safety, through which more than 80 experts from different ministries and Spanish organizations have worked with technicians and officials in Algeria. Given the good results obtained, Grande-Marlaska has proposed to maintain the exchanges of information between the competent units in the field.