[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 105 (Monday, July 29, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                ALGERIA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH R. PITTS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 26, 2002

  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, our nation celebrated our independence, 
freedom and democracy on the Fourth of July. Another independence day 
was commemorated one day later on July 5th--that of our friend and 
ally, Algeria, which celebrated 40 years of independence this year.
  President Bush sent his congratulations to President Bouteflicka to 
mark the occasion, expressing his solidarity with the Algerian people. 
The President reiterated U.S. support for Algeria's efforts in the war 
on terror and progress in political and economic reforms for the 
Algerian people.
  Algeria has been an increasingly staunch ally of the U.S. over the 
years, and has been a particularly helpful friend and ally in our war 
on terrorism. Algeria was one of the first nations to offer its 
condolences and assistance in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. 
In addition, Algeria has cooperated fully with our law enforcement and 
intelligence agencies as a partner in the global coalition against 
terrorism. Ambassador Francis X. Taylor, head of the State Department's 
Counterterrorism Office, praised Algeria's cooperation calling that 
nation ``one of the most tenacious and faithful partners of the United 
States'' which has ``cooperated with us in every domain.''
  As important as Algeria is to us today, it will be increasingly 
important in the future as we explore liquified natural gas reserves 
there to meet our nation's growing energy needs. Algeria has some of 
the largest natural gas reserves in the world, exporting over four 
million barrel per day, soon to be five million--the largest exporter 
in Africa. Algeria could be a prime market for our agricultural 
products. It is a home to U.S. investment and will be an increasingly 
important economic partner in the years to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to add my congratulations to the people of 
Algeria on the occasion of their forty years of independence and 
recognize the important contribution that nation is making in the 
international war on terror, as well as the progress being made towards 
real and lasting democracy.

                          ____________________