Mali has reiterated "full readiness" to work in "good faith" with the movements of northern Mali to find a comprehensive and lasting solution to the crisis shaking the country, said the final statement issued Wednesday at the end of the 5th Algerian-Malian Bilateral Strategic Committee on Northern Mali.
"While underlining the importance attached by the Malian highest authorities to the settlement of the crisis in northern Mali, the Malian side has reiterated its full readiness to work in good faith with the movements of the North to find a comprehensive and lasting solution to the crisis," said the joint statement signed by Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra and Mali's Foreign Minister Aboulaye Diop.
The Malian side also has also renewed its confidence in Algeria to "carry the stage of the inter-Malian dialogue through to a successful conclusion," and has encouraged it to continue its coordination efforts with its partners.
The high-level meeting of support to inter-Malian dialogue for the settlement of the crisis in the North of Mali is being held in Algiers with the participation of Algeria, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the United Nations, the European Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
On this occasion, the Algerian side has informed the Malian side of the results of the consultations it has held with bilateral and multilateral partners of Mali and of their full commitment to "effectively" support the inter-Malian dialogue process.
The 5th Algerian-Malian Bilateral Strategic Committee on Northern Mali constitutes the culmination of the "relentless" efforts of Algeria for the resolution of the Malian crisis, said Lamamra on the eve of the meeting.
This session was an opportunity for Algeria and Mali to exchange views on the peace and regional security challenges, said the final statement, adding that the two countries have reiterated their "willingness to continue to work together to face these challenges in the best interest of the two countries and all the countries of the sub-region.
Algeria and Mali also agreed to continue, through the Committee, to show the "political willingness" of the two heads of state to build a "special relationship based on strategic partnership between the two countries."
The fifth session constitutes the culmination of the relentless efforts, which have never stopped since 19 January, when President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita created the Committee with the aim to contribute to the launch of the inclusive inter-Malian dialogue, said Lamamra.