EMBASSY OF THE PEOPLE S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ALGERIA ALGERIA TODAY MARCH 2014

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1 EMBASSY OF THE PEOPLE S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ALGERIA MARCH 2014 PREDIDENTIAL ACTIVITIES Page 2 MINISTERIAL ACTIVITIES Page 3 OTHER OFFICIAL ACTIVITIES Page 15 AMBASSADOR S ACTIVITIES Page 16 COOPERATION Page 18 SPORS Page 21 THEATER Page 22 CINEMA Page KALORAMA ROAD NW WASHINGTON DC TEL: (202) FAX: (202) Website: algerianembassy.org mail@algeria-us.org

2 PRESIDENTIAL ACTIVITIES Page 2 PRESIDENT BOUTEFLIKA HOSTS PORTUGAL'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER The President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, hosted on March 20, in Algiers the Deputy Prime minister of Portugal, Mr. Paulo Sacadura Cabral Portas, who arrived in Algeria for a working visit as part of the convening of the 4th meeting by the Algerian-Portuguese Economic Working Group. Mr. Portas conveyed to the head of the state a message from Portugal's President Anibal Cavaco Silva. During the meeting, the Portuguese Deputy Prime minister reviewed with President Bouteflika the state of Algerian-Portuguese bilateral relations and expressed his "satisfaction" with the outcome of the proceedings of the 4th meeting by the Algerian-Portuguese Economic Working Group. It should be noted that Algeria and Portugal have agreed to deepen their bilateral ties with the coming signature of four partnership agreements by Algerian and Portuguese firms, namely in the area of construction. Close to one hundred Algerian firms and about forty Portuguese enterprises have taken part in the business forum, whose proceedings focused primarily on development of trade and economic relations between the two countries.

3 MINISTERIAL ACTIVITIES Page 3 FOREIGN MINISTER LAMAMRA HOLDS TALKS WITH VISITING MALIAN MINISTER FOR NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE NORTHERN REGIONS Minister for Foreign Affairs Ramtane Lamamra met for talks on March 2 in Algiers with Mali's Minister for National Reconciliation and Development of the Northern Regions Cheikh Oumar Diarrah, whose visit to Algeria takes place as part of the first meeting by the Algerian -Malian Strategic Committee on Northern Mali. During the meeting which was co-chaired by Messrs. Lamamra and Cheikh Oumar Diarrah, the two sides reviewed the recent developments in the situation prevailing in Mali and particularly its northern regions in the security, political, economic and humanitarian areas. They have as well agreed to pursue their efforts to establish a "united front" against threats to the security of the two countries. For its part, the Algerian side expressed its support for the reforms being implemented by the Malian government to consolidate the practice of democracy and the rule of law and has encouraged the Malian authorities to intensify and accelerate the process of ongoing national reconciliation and has expressed its availability to provide assistance in that respect. The two sides also agreed to pursue their concertation on the situation in northern Mali during the meetings convened by two other bilateral concertation mechanisms scheduled to meet soon and to use those mechanisms as an appropriate framework for management of issues in that region and to organize exchanges of experience and assistance in the area of national reconciliation. The Algerian-Malian Strategic Committee on Northern Mali held its first meeting, in keeping with a decision reached by the president of the Republic, Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and his Malian counterpart President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, during the friendship and working visit made to Algeria by the Malian head of state on Jan , The committee, whose second meeting is scheduled for the first week of next April, also aims to foster the conditions for consolidation of peace, security and stability in the whole Sahel region.

4 Page 4 MR. LAMAMRA HOSTS THE MINISTER DELEGATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA Minister for Foreign Affairs Ramtane Lamamra hosted on March 2 in Algiers Mr. Nurdeen Muhammed, Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy of Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan. In a statement to the press in the wake of his meeting, the Nigerian minister said he was conveying a message from President Goodluck Jonathan to the president of the Republic, Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika. He also indicated that his discussions with Mr. Lamamra had dealt with bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest to Algeria and Nigeria. FOREIGN MINISTER LAMAMRA HOSTS UN SECRETARY GENERAL'S PERSONAL ENVOY FOR WESTERN SAHARA Minister for Foreign Affairs Ramtane Lamamra met on March 2 in Algiers with UN Secretary General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Christopher Ross. Mr. Ross arrived in Algeria as part of a trip in the region to prepare a meeting between the Polisario Front and Morocco with the goal of restarting negotiations on the decolonization of Western Sahara.

5 Page 5 MR. LAMAMRA TRAVELS TO GENEVA TO TAKE PART IN THE 25TH SESSION OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Minister for Foreign affairs Ramtane Lamamra led the Algerian delegation taking part in the proceedings of the 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council held in Geneva, Switzerland, on March The head of Algerian diplomacy, who took part in the high-level segment of the main session held by the Council, delivered remarks before the plenary session to reaffirm Algeria's commitment to pursue its efforts to protect and advance fundamental human rights and its willingness to pursue its cooperation with the Council's organs in implementing the legal instruments to which it is a party. The Council's session holds particular significance for our country, which is starting a term as elected member of the Council for The minister seized the opportunity of the session to underscore the deepening of the democratic process and the rule of law in Algeria and the upholding of the fundamental human rights of its citizens, enabling it to be hailed as a pole of stability in the region. In that context, Mr. Lamamra mentioned the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals before 2015, the progress achieved in the socioeconomic areas, namely the substantial support in youth employment, protection of the rights of children and the promotion of women, included in elected assemblies. Furthermore, he underlined Algeria's "active" solidarity with its neighbors and with peoples whose rights have yet to be achieved. On the sidelines of the high-level meeting, the minister held talks with Mrs. Navanethen Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. He also held bilateral talks with a number of his counterparts, including the Minister of State, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso Djibrill Bassolé and South African Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Mrs. Maite Nkaoana Nashabane.

6 Page 6 MR. LAMAMRA TAKES PART IN ROME IN THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR SUPPORT TO LIBYA Minister for Foreign Affairs Ramtane Lamamra traveled to Rome, Italy, on March 6 to take part in the proceedings of the second international conference of support to Libya. In remarks delivered on that occasion, Mr. Lamamra called on the international community to adopt "concrete measures" to help Libya build strong institutions and enable the country to secure its national territory. Moreover, he reiterated Algeria's commitment to support Libya as it transitions to democracy and meet the aspirations of the brotherly Libyan people by joining all energies, adding that "Algeria's security is bound to the security of Libya." Furthermore, he considered that the Rome conference was "being held at a time when the whole region is facing serious security situations that impose a new reality and heretofore-unknown challenges which force us to show greater caution and vigilance and to take greater measures to face these real threats to the security of Libya but also to the whole region and its surrounding Mediterranean, African and Arab environments." The foreign minister also held talks on the sidelines of the conference, meeting with Libyan Prime minister Ali Zidane and with the foreign minister of Italy, Mrs. Federica Mogherini, with whom he examined the ways and means to strengthen and develop bilateral relations.

7 Page 7 THE HEAD OF ALGERIAN DIPLOMACY TAKES PART IN THE MEETING OF ARAB FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTERS IN CAIRO Mr. Ramtane Lamamra led the Algerian delegation taking part in the proceedings of the 141st session of the Council of the Arab League's meeting of the Arab foreign ministers, which opened on March 9 in the Egyptian capital at the headquarters of the organization. In his remarks to the delegates, Mr. Lamamra urged the international community to assume its responsibilities with regards to the Palestinian question and exert pressures on Israel to get it to abide by international legality. Discussing the Syrian crisis, he called on the parties to the conflict in Syria to promote wisdom and wishes for the Syrians to reach a consensus through the Geneva process as they engage in serious dialogue and use that precious opportunity to transcend all obstacles that hinder a return of peace and security in Syria, one of the founder of the Arab League and a pillar of joint Arab action. The minister has also hailed positive political developments in several Arab countries, expressing his satisfaction with the progress achieved by Tunisia as it implemented a democratic electoral process and adopted a new constitution. Discussing the next election in Algeria, Mr. Lamamra said Algeria is getting ready to experience a real celebration of democracy through the presidential election of April 17. He added that observers from international organizations and regional and international bodies such as the Arab League will be observing the voting operations in Algeria. Indeed, on March 9, Foreign Minister Lamamra and Arab League Secretary General Nabil Al Arabi signed an agreement whereby the Arab League would dispatch a team of experts to Algeria to observe the April 17 election. The Arab League observers will join other experts sent by the African Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the European Union, and the United Nations. These participants and other local observers will "guarantee the transparence of the presidential election," Mr. Lamamra said.

8 Page 8 MR. LAMAMRA HOSTS CHADIAN MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND AFRICAN INTEGRATION Chadian Minister for Foreign affairs and African Integration Moussa Faki Mahamat arrived in Algiers for a two-day official visit (March 17-18) as part of the convening of the 3rd session held by the Algerian-Chadian Joint Commission. The proceedings of the session, chaired by Foreign Affairs Minister Ramtane Lamamra and his Chadian counterpart, enabled the two delegations to undertake an "exhaustive assessment" of bilateral cooperation and "to examine the prospects of boosting and diversifying" relations between the two countries. Several agreements covering different areas of cooperation were finalized and signed during the session, thus "strengthening the legal framework of Algerian- Chadian bilateral relations." The proceedings also included continued political concertation between the two countries on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

9 Page 9 DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITIES BY MR. LAMAMRA ON THE SIDELINES OF THE ARAB LEAGUE COUNCIL OF ARAB FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTERS Conducting diplomatic activities on the margins of the Cairo meeting, Mr. Lamamra met with several of his counterparts. He held talks with his counterpart of the Sultanate of Oman Youcef Ben Alaoui Ben Abdallah, the Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister for Foreign affairs of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah El Khaled, his counterpart from South Sudan Bernaba Benjamin and Lebanon's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Gebrane Bassil. Mr. Lamamra also held discussions with the Arab League's secretary General Nabil Al-Arabi, prior to signing the observer mission agreement. MR. LAMAMRA MEETS WITH THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER'S SPECIAL REP- RESENTATIVE FOR ALGERIAN-BRITISH ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP Speaking after his meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Ramtane Lamamra met on March 18 in Algiers, Lord Richard Risby, the British Prime Minister's special representative for the Algerian-British Economic Partnership, declared that Algeria was a "model of security" and plays a "significant role" in the region. Lord Risby added that he and Mr. Lamamra had had "wide-ranging discussions" of political, economic and security aspects of their bilateral cooperation, which he termed "remarkable". In that respect, he stressed that aspects of that cooperation including health, economy, and teaching of the English language have been discussed during his visit and will be "developed in the coming months" through discussions held by commissions set up to that effect.

10 Page 10 FOREIGN MINISTER LAMAMRA IN THE SULTANATE OF OMAN FOR A WORKING VISIT Minister for Foreign affairs Ramtane Lamamra made a working visit to Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, on March 20 and 21, responding to an invitation by his Omani counterpart Youcef Ben Aloui Ben Abdallah. The two sides reviewed the state of cooperation between the two countries in light of the recommendations made at the last session of the joint commission which convened in June 2013 in Algiers and they have examined ways and means to increase the already close relations between the two sisterly countries. Mr. Lamamra's visit also enabled the two sides to strengthen their concertation and coordination on different Arab, regional and international political issues. Moreover, the two ministers exchanged views on issues on the agenda of the 25th Arab Summit meeting scheduled to convene on March in Kuwait City and have agreed to join efforts to ensure the success of that important meeting. Continuing his working visit in Oman, Mr. Lamamra was hosted by Mr. Khaled Ben Hillal El-Boussaidi, Cabinet Minister of Sultan Qabus, to whom Mr. Lamamra conveyed "the greetings and sentiments of friendship and fraternity from President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and to whom he expressed the willingness of the President to advance with the Omani sovereign a mutually advantageous partnership between the two sisterly countries."

11 Page 11 MR. LAMAMRA TAKES PART IN THE PREPARATORY MEETING LEADING UP TO THE 25TH SUMMIT MEETING OF THE PAN-ARAB ORGANIZATION Speaking after the proceedings of the preparatory meeting leading up to the summit meeting held by the Pan-Arab organization in Kuwait, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ramtane Lamamra expressed the wish that the meeting would represent a qualitative leap for solidarity among the Arab countries. In remarks made to the delegates, Mr. Lamamra noted the consensus reached by the Arab countries on several of the issues on the agenda of the meeting, which examined several issues, including the Palestinian question, the Syrian crisis, the phenomenon of terrorism, the creation of an Arab Human Rights Court, and reform of the Arab League. Discussing the main issue examined by the Arab foreign ministers, namely the Palestinian question, Mr. Lamamra underscored the Arab insistence on the need to get the Arab countries to maintain their financial support of the State of Palestine, recalling that out of 22 Member States of the Arab League, 5 only, including Algeria, have honored their commitment. On the Syrian conflict, which now has entered its fourth year, the minister noted the comprehensive Arab consensus on the imperative of finding a peaceful political resolution to the Syrian crisis. Additionally to the situation of the Syrian refugees, the Arab foreign ministers have examined an issue that was polemical among the Arab parties over the past year, namely the handing over of Syria's seat, which has remained vacant during this session, to the coalition of the Syrian opposition. On that point, he reiterated Algeria's opposition, saying that decision to hand the seat to a coalition which does not represent the whole Syrian population, on the one hand, and which is neither agreed nor mandated by the governmental authorities of the country, on the other, is contrary to Arab League Charter and constitutes and "inadmissible precedent." On the issue of terrorism, the minister affirmed that "concrete results have been registered in boosting joint Arab action in terms of fighting terrorism," while underscoring the support expressed by Algeria at that session at the Egyptian initiative which was examined by the Arab ministers of Interior and Justice at their recently convened meeting. In that sense, he indicated that Algeria will host in March 2015 the meeting of Arab Interior ministers to examine the issue of terrorism and the dangers of sectarianism and communitarianism for identity and the social fabric in the Arab world, imposing the need to preserve the Arab national identity. He added that the Arab officials would debate in a closeddoor session, after the inaugural session of the summit meeting, the issue of differences and tensions in inter-arab relations.

12 Page 12 DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITIES BY MR. LAMAMRA ON THE MARGINS OF THE KUWAIT SUMMIT MEETING As part of his participation in the meeting of Arab foreign ministers leading up to the summit meeting of the 25th session of the Pan-Arab organization, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra met on Saturday March 22 in Kuwait with Sheikh Sabah El- Khaled El-Hamed El-Sabah, First Vice President of the Council of minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kuwait. During their meeting, the two ministers reviewed the state and prospects of bilateral cooperation, mentioning namely the upcoming meeting in Algiers of the second session of the Algerian-Kuwaiti Political Consultations Commission, which will chaired by the two ministers. Mr. Lamamra also met with Mr. Nabil Al Arabi, secretary general of the Arab League. They discussed the issues on the agenda of the Arab summit meeting, namely the Palestinian question, the Syrian crisis, and the fight against terrorism. The head of Algerian diplomacy has also held several meetings with his counterparts from Tunisia, Iraq, Qatar, Somalia, Sudan and Mauritania. Furthermore, the Syrian crisis on the agenda of the discussions held by Mr. Lamamra with the joint envoy of the Arab League and the United Nations for Syria, Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi.

13 Page 13 MR. BOUGUERRA TAKES PART IN CRANS MONTANA FORUM Minister Delegate for Maghreb and African Affairs Madjid Bouguerra took part in Brussels in the annual meeting of Crans Montana Forum, on March Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Forum's creation, the meeting was highlighted by an extraordinary session devoted to "South-South Cooperation and the Increasing Role of Africa". Mr. Bouguerra also held talks on the sidelines of the forum as he met with Mauritania's foreign minister Ould Taguadi. Their discussions covered bilateral relations, preparations for the Africa-European Union summit meeting to be held on April 2-3, and the situation prevailing in the Sahel.

14 Page 14 MR. BOUGUERRA HOSTS JAPAN'S MINISTER DELEGATE TO THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS In a statement issued after his meeting with Minister Delegate for Maghreb and African Affairs Madjid Bouguerra, Mr. Nobuo Kishi, Japan's Minister Delegate to the Minister for Foreign Affairs for Middle Eastern, European, and American Affairs, said his country wished to "closely" cooperate with Algeria to help maintain stability in the Sahel region. The Japanese high official, who was visiting Algeria for the first time, insisted to "congratulate Algeria" for the operation led by Algerian security forces at Tigentourine during the terrorist attack against the gas complex in Jan Mr. Kishi declared that "Japan will continue to work and cooperate with Algeria" and expressed the wish that his visit "could accelerate the process of consolidation of cooperation between the two countries", which already enjoy old and friendly relations.

15 Page 15 ACTIVITIES BY OTHER OFFICIALS PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE NATION BENSALAH REPRESENTS PRESIDENT BOUTEFLIKA AT THE ARAB SUMMIT MEETING IN KUWAIT The President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, designated the president of the Council of the Nation, Mr. Abdelkader Bensalah, to represent him at the 25th summit meeting of the Arab League States held on March in Kuwait. After the official opening session, Mr. Bensalah held talks with Lebanese President Michel Souleiman on the "privileged" bilateral relations between Algeria and Lebanon and they examined ways and means to develop the relations to the best interest of the two countries and the two peoples. Mr. Bensalah also met with Yemeni President Abd Rabou Mansour Hadi with whom he discussed the issues on the agenda of the meeting and its likely outcome "at the service of joint Arab cooperation in light of the development in and outside the Arab world."

16 Page 16 ACTIVITIES BY AMBASSADOR BAALI AMBASSADOR ABDALLAH BAALI MET WITH SENATOR JEFF FLAKE On March 11, 2014, Ambassador Abdallah Baali met with Senator Jeff Flake (R- Arizona), Ranking Minority Member of the Subcommittee on African Affairs. During this meeting, Messrs. Baali and Flake expressed their satisfaction at the reinforcement of the relations between Algeria and the United States as illustrated by the launching of the U.S. Algerian Strategic Dialogue on October 19th Ambassador Baali took also this opportunity to brief extensively Senator Flake on the situation prevailing in northern Mali, and they exchanged their views on the latest developments in the region.

17 Page 17 AMBASSADOR ABDALLAH BAALI MET WITH CONGRESSWOMAN BETTY MCCOLLUM On Wednesday, March 26, 2014, Ambassador Abdallah Baali met with Congresswoman Betty McCollum (Democrat, Minnesota). Ambassador Baali took this opportunity to brief extensively Congresswoman McCollum on the progress achieved by Algeria in various areas, as well as in protecting and promoting Algerian women s rights, and on the situation in the region. M. Baali and Mrs. McCollum expressed their satisfaction with the reinforcement of the relations between Algeria and the United States

18 COOPERATION Page 18 ALGERIA-CHAD: SEVEN BILATERAL COOPERATION AGREEMENTS SIGNED Algeria and Chad have signed on March 18 seven bilateral cooperation agreements in several areas and sectors, at the close of the 3rd session of the Algerian- Chadian Joint Commission. The agreements signed include a trade agreement, an MOU in the area of post and TIC, an agreement for cultural cooperation, an agreement in the communication sector, a memorandum of understanding in the sector of professional training and education. The agreements were signed by Minister for Foreign Affairs Ramtane Lamamra and Chad's Minister for Foreign Affairs and African Integration Moussa Faki Mahamat. Algeria and Chad have also an MOU in the promotion of foreign trade and a cooperation agreement between the Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chadian Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture and Craft Industry.

19 Page 19 ALGERIA-MALI: SIGNATURE OF THE MINUTES OF THE AGREEMENT REACHED BY THE JOINT COMMISSION FOR MILITARY AND TECHNICAL COMMISSION The minutes of the agreement reached by the Algerian-Malian joint commission for military and technical cooperation were signed on March 8 in Algiers at the headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense. The Chief of Staff of the Ministry of National Defense, Major general Mohamed Zenakhri, and Malian Minister of Defense Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga supervised the signature ceremony. Prior to the signature ceremony, the two sides held talks during which they reviewed the areas of cooperation between the two countries and discussed issues of mutual interest.

20 Page 20 SONELGAZ/GENERAL ELECTRIC: PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT FOR THE CREATION OF NEW INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX Sonelgaz, the Algerian state-owned power and gas utility company, and the American General Electric (GE) signed on Wednesday March19, in Algiers a long-term partnership agreement to build in Batna (Eastern Algeria) a new industrial complex for the manufacture of power blocks. The complex, which involves investment of close to $300 million, will produce starting in 2017 gas turbines, steam turbines, alternators, and control systems making up power blocks. The equipments, which will be built in Algeria, will generate about 2,000 watts annually to meet the increasing power demand in Algeria. A new joint venture called General Electric Algeria Turbines (GEAT) will be created to build and operate the complex located at Ain Yagout, Batna. Ownership of GEAT will be split 51%- 49% between Sonelgaz and GE Industrial, a GE affiliate. The Sonelgaz-GE agreement was reached after an international call for tender for the supply of equipment for power production, in which bidders were obligated to commit to create an industrial complex for equipment manufacturing in Algeria. The complex includes four plants and will allow production of GE's latest technology gas turbines, steam turbines, alternators, and command and control systems to equip the turbines built in the first two plants. The GEAT statutes were signed by Sonelgaz CEO Nourredine Bouterfa Steve Bolze, CEO of GE Power & Water and a representative of General Electric Group.

21 SPORTS Page 21 BOXING/JUNIORS AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS; NINE MEDALS, INCLUDING SIX GOLD MEDALS, FOR ALGERIA The Algerian boxing squad (Men - Juniors) lined up nine fighters in the various final competitions of the African championships held in Yaoundé, Cameroon and brought home six gold medals, no less. The gold medalists were Jugurtha Aït Beka (52 kg), Salem Tamma (56 kg), Chemseddine Kramou (60 kg), Azzedine Lameche (64 kg), Bouzid Youcef (91 kg) and Ouarzeddine Amar Adlane (over 91 kg). For their part, Omani Wael (69 kg) and cheref Koussaila (81 kg) won silver, whereas Zouhir Boutine took home a bronze medal. In the women's category (senior), Algeria won three medals, including gold for Souhila Bouchene (48 kg), silver for Roumaissa Boualem (51 kg), and bronze for Manel Mehersi. The deputy coach for the national junior squad, Mourad Ouahib, considered that the results obtained so far by the national team were "good preparation" for the world youth championships, scheduled to take place in Sofia, Bulgaria, on April 6-20.

22 THEATER Page 22 "TERRE SAINTE" BY MOHAMED KACIMI STAGED AT THE HERE THEATER IN NEW YORK "Terre Sainte" (Holy Land), a play by the Algerian writer and playwright Mohamed Kacimi is scheduled to be staged on April 10 through 18 in New York City at the Here Theater, theater organizers said. Written in 2006, "Terre Sainte" is a tragedy whose characters witness the world's destruction before their very eyes. It is being played in the United States for the first time after a European tour. Translated in English by the Canadian Chantal Bilodeau, the play is a production by"3rd Kulture Kids", a theater group directed by Tracy Cameron Francis, who is known for his artistic cooperation with a number of theaters throughout the world. Born in El-Hamel, near Bou Saada, Mohamed Kacimi is a novelist, playwright and essay writer. He lives and works in Europe and has organized international writing workshops within the "Écritures Vagabondes" association. His works, which include "Les confessions d'abraham" (theater, 1994), "Le dernier jour" (novel, 1996), and "L'Orient après l'amour" (essay, 2008), have met with great success.

23 CINEMA Page 23 TWO ALGERIAN MOVIES FEATURED AT THE KALAMAZOO FRANCOPHONE FILM FESTIVAL Two long-feature movies, "Rangaine" (Same old, same old) by the Algerian director Rachid Djaidani, and "Kadach T'habni" (How much do you love me) by his compatriot Fatma Zohra Zaamoun, are scheduled to be shown at the 13th edition of the Francophone Film Festival of Kalmazoo, in eastern Michigan. The two movies will be competing for the "Golden Kazoo" along with other movies, including "Les légendes de Madagscar" (Madagascar) and "Les enfants de Kinshasa" (Congo). The 75-minute long movie "Rengaine" has already won in 2012 the Cannes Festival's Award of Film Critics after being featured in the Directors Fortnight" as well as in the international festival of independent cinema in Bordeaux, France. "Kadach T'habni" had already represented Algeria along with other movies at several festivals, including "Arabian Sights Film Festival" in Washington, D.C. in 2012 and at the Khorigba, Morocco, African Film Festival. Established in 2012, the Kalamazoo Francophone Film Festival aims to "raise awareness about Francophone cinema", organizers said.