[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 13, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E62]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SAYING GOOD-BYE TO AMBASSADOR ABDALLAH BAALI OF THE PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC 
                          REPUBLIC OF ALGERIA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 13, 2015

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I say good-
bye to a distinguished member of the Washington diplomatic corps--His 
Excellency Abdallah Baali of the People's Democratic Republic of 
Algeria. During his six years in Washington, Ambassador Baali has made 
a tremendous effort to engage with Congress and strengthen the U.S.-
Algeria bilateral relationship. A man of calm demeanor and wise 
insights, the ambassador not only represented his government with honor 
and great ability, he worked hard to educate and inform Congress about 
Algeria's important role in the Maghreb-Sahel region, as well as the 
economic, human rights, and democratic progress being made by his 
country.
  During the 113th Congress it was my honor to serve as the Democratic 
co-chair of the Congressional Algeria Caucus, along with my Wisconsin 
colleague Representative Sean Duffy. The work of Ambassador Baali and 
his staff was critical to re-establishing the caucus and I am deeply 
grateful for all of his efforts.
  During his visits to my office I listened to Ambassador Baali's words 
closely as we discussed the relationship between our two nations and 
the need for a partnership in the Maghreb-Sahel region to combat 
extremism, promote security, and guarantee self-determination and 
freedom for the people of the Western Sahara. Algeria's role in 
regional security is critical and I greatly appreciated Ambassador 
Baali's wise counsel and valuable insights.
  I wish to thank President Bouteflika and the people of Algeria for 
sending my nation such a capable, professional, and trusted diplomat. 
Ambassador Baali shall always be welcome in my office and I wish him 
much success and happiness as he returns home to Algeria.

                          ____________________