44th anniversary of Iran’s Islamic Revolution victory commemorated in Algeria
By: Hana Saada
ALGERIA – A reception ceremony was held, on Thursday in Algiers, by Iran’s Embassy in Algeria so as to celebrate the 44th victory anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.
With strong patriotic fervor, the anthems of the two countries, namely, Algeria and Iran, were performed followed by the applause of the attendees.
Hailing Iran’s resistance to illegally-imposed sanctions, the Iranian Ambassador to Algeria, Hossein Mashalchizadeh, said, in his address on this occasion, that the Islamic Revolution has turned into a robust and fruitful tree despite intense windstorms and consecutive adversities.
He noted that the Islamic Revolution was a public movement to negate local despotism and foreign dominance as well as administer justice, freedom and independence, emphasizing his government’s keenness to cooperating in establishing peace and stability in the region.
“With the election of President Ebrahim Raïssi, the new Iranian government has maintained a balanced foreign policy, a dynamic diplomacy and intelligent interaction to secure the interests of its people and establish regional and global peace. The stability of the Middle East has a direct and strong connection with the security of the world, including Europe; The Islamic Republic welcomes all proposals to promote peace and stability in the region. To this end, our government has launched constructive discussions with its neighbors and eventually, a remarkable progress has been achieved in this direction. We believe that the foreign presence and the intervention of foreign powers in the region would jeopardize the region’ stability and security, hence, a collective cooperation and collaboration of the region’ countries would be more than necessary,” said the Iranian Envoy.
His Excellency referred, in this vein, to Iran’s principled position vis-à-vis the Palestinian cause, highlighting his country’s unwavering determination to support the oppressed Palestinian nation against the expansionist policies of the apartheid Zionist Entity.
“The Palestinian cause is a fundamental pillar of the Iranian foreign policy. We believe that a long-lasting stability in the region would not be achievable unless the Palestinian people enjoy all their rights… I reiterated Iran’s categorical support for the people of Palestine until they liberate their motherland with al-Quds as its capital”.
With respect to diplomatic ties, the official welcomed both countries long-standing and exceptional relations in all spheres, mentioning the frequent official visits paid by high-ranking officials and parliamentarians from both sides for the sake to give new prospects so as to provide further impetus and substance to both countries ties and cooperation.
In this aspect, the Iranian Envoy highlighted the friendly and brotherly relations between Tehran and Algiers, saying the bonds ‘are based on long-term friendship and close cooperation’.
“Iran and Algeria hold regular talks on bilateral, regional and international issues. Regular consultations are being held. Convergence of views have been noted on an array of international issues, particularly the problems faced by the World of Islam,” he further explained.
The Diplomat said that both countries ‘are forerunners in tackling terrorism and extremism, defending Islam’s central cause, namely; the Palestinian cause’.
As regards economy, His Excellency expressed his country’s readiness to further give a new impetus to economic cooperation with Algeria. The Iranian ambassador referred to his country’s potential in different fields but also its industrial and technological advancements, mentioning that Iran has achieved self-sufficiency in different fields despite external challenges and sanctions thanks to the influential moral legacies of Imam Khomeini who left a perpetual guideline for his Ummah, Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution who has pursued this path, as well as the Great Iranian people who have never ceased to intimidation and unjust pressure.
In addition, the official stated that Iran, despite the enemies’ plots, has been trying to establish cordial relations with all global countries based on mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs of other states.
The Ambassador said, as his mission in Algeria is coming to an end, that he was happy to have accomplished his mission in the North African country, foreseeing a radiant future for the relations between the two sisterly countries.
“I have met high-ranking officials in Algeria and noted a common willingness to further enhance all-out bilateral cooperation. Iran, for its part, will spare no effort to continue to work selflessly to further strengthen these relations,” he said.
The Iranian Envoy concluded by addressing his thanks to the Algerian people for their warm welcome and hospitality, and the government for its constructive cooperation.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, an exhibition of handicrafts and paintings was held with a view to shed light on Iranian culture and arts.
Dignitaries, including Algerian ministers, namely; the Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Youcef Cherfa and the Minister for Relations with Parliament, Basma Azouar, representing the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, members of parliament, heads of political parties, ambassadors, academic and cultural figures and Iranians residing in Algeria have attended this ceremony held at Sofitel hotel.
Every year, millions of Iranians across the country observe ten days of celebrations marking the anniversary of the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution that put an end to the monarchy of the US-backed Pahlavi regime in the country and established the Islamic Republic in the country.
Sneak peek into Algerian-Iranian relations
Algeria and Iran’s brotherly relations are deeply rooted and go back to the 1960s. Soon after Algeria’s independence from France in 1962, Iran was among the first countries to recognize it as an independent nation, opening the Iranian embassy in autumn of 1964, in Algiers.
Iranian scholars held celebrations in the mosques of the Republic on the occasion of Algeria’s independence. The movie “The Battle of Algiers” was translated into Persian and screened many times on Iranian TV channels. Many Iranian poets also presented poems in Persian about the glorious Algerian revolution, such as; Abdol-Ali Adib Brumand, Khosro Farshid Vard, Ali Mahmoudi, Mohammad Jafar Iranpour, and Jafar Pour Tuyserkani.
After his return from Paris, Imam Khomeini delivered a speech, calling upon Muslims to unite and follow in the Algerian revolution’s footsteps. According to him, the Algerian revolution represented both the lesser jihad against colonialism and the greater jihad against backwardness (inner struggle against sinful behavior).
Following the victory of 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, prominent Algerian leaders, including the late thinkers Naît Belkacem and Ahmed Hamani, were warmly received by Imam Khomeini. The Iranian television broadcast their meeting where they were sitting on the ground in the residence of the leader of the Iranian Revolution.
Besides, since then, bilateral ties between the two nations have developed and the two countries intensified meetings and exchanges culminating in the adoption of similar stances on an array of international issues, particularly the problems faced by the World of Islam like the ones in Palestine and Syria.
The ties of friendship between Algeria and the Islamic Republic of Iran are based on mutual respect and trust, convergence of views, common will to ensure the prosperity of the two peoples, and joint action for the establishment of a just world order within the framework of respect for the sovereignty of States and the dignity of peoples. Algeria is one of the countries that have independent positions close to those of Iran on many issues, including in terms of its political literature.
Iran and Algeria hold regular talks on bilateral, regional and international issues. Regular meetings between the two foreign ministries’ officials, high-ranked delegations within the framework of relations and regular consultations are taking place. The sisterly countries are paying attention to developing all-around cooperation given their common denominators. On different occasions, the two countries’ leaders have expressed their determination for the promotion of cooperation between Iran and Algeria in various fields considering the two countries’ history and ample capacities. Both countries are revolutionary. The revolution in Algeria has been an inspirational force not only in the region, but also in the history of the struggle against colonization in the 1950s and 1960s, and the people of Algeria, like the Iranian people, took part in a long struggle to gain their independence from France in 1962 with a million and a half martyrs. Both countries adhere to principles of independence and fighting against oppression, colonialism, and injustice. They are also forerunners in tackling terrorism and extremism, calling for exerting more efforts so as to nip these scourges in the bud.
To date, more than 70 agreements, covering all-out cooperation, have been concluded. Since the very beginning of the nuclear talks and even before the conclusion of the JCPOA, Algeria constantly and explicitly defended Iran’s rights in international bodies. Last February, the Algeria-Iran parliamentary friendship group was set up in Algiers.
Following the elections of two nations’ Presidents, Iran and Algeria enjoy constructive relations with bilateral cooperation further increasing. Iranian President Sayyid Ebrahim Raïssi expressed Iran’s determination to remove all obstacles to developing economic ties between Iran and Algeria, considering no limit for all-around cooperation between the sisterly countries in the best interests of the two brotherly peoples. President Tebboune, for his part, expressed Algeria’s willingness to further boost mutual cooperation in diverse areas.
