Algeria defends itself

With reference to the article titled No end to Algeria's agony (The Jakarta Post, June 25), the Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Algeria would like to give some remarks as follows:

First, We would like to emphasize that it is not the first time that our country has been the subject of this kind of article. Despite our multiple clarifications, the campaign of slander is still underway. A campaign which made your paper a notorious one. Actually, we find it hard to believe that you resort to such methods to meet your ends in these hard times.

Second, our commentary on the article mentioned above is that it is not more than a series of lies, falsehoods and calumnies. You should know that the freedom of the press does not mean freedom of slander.

Third, we would like to note that by repeating the same lies and falsehoods of those who claim openly their crimes against innocent people, including children and women, the author of the article has become a spokesman of those terrorist organizations.

Finally, we would like to point out that whether its detractors like it or not, Algeria is performing well and thanks to the international stature of its legitimate president and his initiatives on the national level (national reconciliation), as well as the international level (Algeria will receive the biggest gathering of the heads of states of the African continent before the end of this millennium), it will do more and perform better. And this will prove enough that you are wrong.

OMAR GUETARNI

Charge d'Affaires a.i.

Algerian Embassy,

Jakarta