By Constantin Radut
When the plane we were coming from Bucharest, via Rome, descended smoothly over the Mediterranean, suddenly through the window of the aircraft we were shown a white wall, more and more bright and huge. It was the capital of the country, Algiers. A huge city, descending as if from mountain tops and stopping at the edge of the sea. Algiers Bay is one of the largest in the world and attracts thousands and thousands of visitors daily.
I had read a lot about Algeria since I was a student, and the wounds of the war of independence under French colonial tutelage were barely fading. When we arrived in Algiers, near the mid-1990s, the city and its inhabitants were straining to end another war that had destroyed the peace and health of society, that of radical Islamist groups and the country’s glorious army.
After Bouteflika came to power, the country began to regain its peace and hope for prosperity.
All the citizens of the country agreed that the war should end.
This is how I had the opportunity to meet and make friends with many Algerians, especially businessmen, during my four years as economic adviser at the Romanian Embassy. They were very interested in collaborating with Romania, especially in the large projects carried out by Romanians in Algeria in the years after the country’s independence.
I brought some of them to Bucharest. Very friendly and kind, serious and fair people.
My memories of Algeria are excellent. A big country, rich and with a great future. When you see that the country’s population has increased since 1962, the year of liberation almost 3 times so far, now reaching over 45 million citizens, you can not help but think that the country is on the path of a great regional power.
If we add to this the richness of the country, natural gas and oil, then the confidence is strengthened that Algeria will play a leading role in the North African and Arab world.
Vive l’Algerie!
Algeria marks, today, July 5, 60 years since its independence, in a celebration with great pomp, culminating in an imposing military parade in the capital.
As a sign of the importance of this event, a special logo, circular in shape and adorned with 60 stars, was designed to mark the anniversary, with the slogan “A glorious history and a new era”.
Algeria: A glorious history and a new era. 60 years of independence and prosperity
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