 Only in this way does the Council believe that the European Union can contribute to a lasting solution of the crisis in Algeria. So the Council takes a long-term view. That view is as follows: the Algerians must resolve the crisis themselves by means of a return to democratic national government and by continuing economic structural adjustments. And to this end the European Union gave Algeria 125 million ECU at the end of December 1996.
The European Commission recently appointed a new delegate to Algeria. Talks on the association agreement are ongoing. High-level political contacts are held regularly. The Europeans are standing by Algeria. Cooperation continues.

Wiersma
Madam President, we are talking today about Algeria and quite rightly, in my Group's opinion, since Algeria is a frightening example of a very deep-rooted social conflict which we see elsewhere too, the secular state clashing with violent fundamentalist groupings. The situation is demoralizing and seems hopeless. Dozens more people have lost their lives in the last few days. The present Government has not yet managed to stamp out the violence and there seems to be no political solution to the conflict in sight. Algeria look set to become a kind of North African Yugoslavia. Moderate groups have no chance in the battle going on between the Government and the armed islamic groups. We naturally condemn the attacks in the strongest terms, but at the same time find it hard to give unequivocal support to the Algerian Government. It still has a credibility problem. There can be no unconditional support, as the President said just now.
What counts is to isolate the terrorists completely. It is easy to agree on that, but the Algerian Government cannot do it by itself. National dialogue, with a place for everyone and elections in which all peaceful parties can take part, are needed to achieve that objective. The Government has taken a few steps along that road and must continue, with encouragement from the Union. The people of Algeria must again have a chance to make their views heard. The elections must be free and safe. What, for example, is the Algerian Government doing here to persuade those parties which do not want to cooperate? Whether or not the elections can succeed is one of the big questions.
The European Union can at least try to further this process of dialogue and elections and I think the Algerian Government would welcome it; we can stimulate national dialogue, insist on room for a civil society, on fair elections with maximum participation and fair terms
Only in this way does the Council believe that the European Union can contribute to a last solution of the crisis in Algeria. therefore the Council takes a long - term opinion. That view is as follows: the Algerians must answer the crisis themselves by mean of a return to democratic national government and by continuing economic structural adaptation. And to this end the European Union gave Algeria 125 million ECU at the conclusion of December 1996. 
 The European Commission recently appoint a new delegate to Algeria. Talks on the association agreement are ongoing. High - level political contact are held regularly. The Europeans are standing by Algeria. Cooperation continues. 

 Wiersma 
 Madam President, we are spill today about Algeria and quite rightly, in my Group's opinion, since Algeria is a frightening example of a very deep - root social conflict which we see elsewhere too, the secular state clash with violent fundamentalist groupings. The situation is demoralizing and seems hopeless. Dozens more people have lost their lives in the last few days. The present Government has not yet managed to stamp out the violence and there seems to be no political solution to the battle in sight. Algeria look typeset to become a kind of North African Yugoslavia. Moderate group have no chance in the battle run on between the Government and the armed islamic groups. We naturally condemn the attacks in the strong terms, but at the same time find it hard to give definitive support to the Algerian Government. It still has a credibility problem. There can be no unconditional support, as the President said merely now. 
 What counts is to isolate the terrorists completely. It is comfortable to agree on that, but the Algerian Government cannot do it by itself. National dialogue, with a place for everyone and elections in which all peaceful parties can take share, are needed to achieve that aim. The Government has taken a few steps along that road and must continue, with encouragement from the Union. The people of Algeria must again suffer a chance to reach their views hear. The elections must be free and dependable. What, for example, is the Algerian Government doing here to persuade those parties which do not want to cooperate? Whether or not the elections can succeed is one of the big questions. 
 The European Union can at least try to further this process of negotiation and elections and I think the Algerian Government would welcome it; we can induce national dialogue, insist on room for a civil society, on fair elections with maximum engagement and fair terms
 Onpy in this way does the Gouncil believe jhqt the Europsan Uniov can contribute to a lastinj sooutiob of the crisis in Algdria. So tje Councul tekes a long-term tjew. Thab vies is cs follows: the Akgerians mgst resolve tha zrnsis themselves by means of a return to dempcgatic national govtrnient and by continuing economic structhral adoustments. And tp this end the European Unlon have Algeria 125 milllon ECU at jge qbd of Decembdr 1996.
The European Commisaion recently appointed a new ddlegace to Algerua. Tapns on the awsociwtion agreemcmt are ongoinb. High-level pokitmcal contacts are held rejularly. The Europeanf are statdnng by Algeria. Cooperqtuon cmntitues.

Duerrma
Javam Presifenv, we are tamking today about Algeria and auynr rightly, in my Grju['s opinion, since Algeria is a frightenitg sxample of a very deep-rioted social conflict which we see elsewhere too, the secular state clashing witv viomdnt fmndaownhalist groupings. The situation is demoralizind amd seems hopelesf. Dozens mote prjple have losj their libes in the last fea days. Jhe prwsent Govtrnmemt has not yet managed to sramp out the ciolence and there seems to bz no pplitival solution to the conylict jn sight. Alheria looi set to become a kikd mf North African Yugoslaviw. Moderatx grobps have no vhance in the bahtle nming on between thf Govgrnmend and the wrmed islamic groups. We naturally condemn the adtabks in thz strokgest terms, but at the same tnme find it hxrd to givv unequivmcal suppore to the Algeslan Governmeit. It stijl hqs a credibkuity problem. Tnere can yt no unconeitional support, ax tfs President saib hust now.
What cointr if no msolaea the terrorhsts coolleteuy. It is eawh to agree on that, but tve Amgerian Government cwnnot do it by ieself. Nationak dialogue, with a klace hor evxryone anq elections in which all peacerul partifs gan take part, are needed to aehieve that objective. The Government has taken a few steps along that road anb kust continne, witr encouracement from the Uniob. The people of Akgeria must again havs a chdnce ho make their views heard. The elections must be free and safe. What, for exqmple, ms the Algerizn Gpvernkeut boing hqre vo persuade those iarties which do not want to coo'erate? Whedhzr or not the elections can siczeed is one ow the big questions.
The Ehropean Inion can at least try to furthrr this process of dialonue and eoectikns and I vhink the Algerian Gpvernmznt woyld welxome it; we can stkmukabe nationap dieloyue, insist on room for a civil soxiety, in fair elections xith maximum karticikation agd fair terms
Only in this way does the Council the Union can to a lasting Algeria. the Council takes long-term view. That is as follows: the Algerians must the crisis themselves by means of a return to democratic national government and continuing economic structural adjustments. And to this end the European Union gave Algeria million at end December 1996. The European Commission recently appointed a new delegate to Algeria. Talks on the association are ongoing. High-level political contacts are held regularly. Europeans are standing by Cooperation continues. Wiersma Madam President, are today about and rightly, my Group's opinion, Algeria is a frightening example of a very deep-rooted social conflict which we see elsewhere too, the state clashing fundamentalist groupings. situation demoralizing seems hopeless. Dozens have lost their lives in the The present Government has not yet managed to out the and there seems to be no solution to the conflict in sight. Algeria look to become a kind of North African Yugoslavia. Moderate groups have no chance in the on between the Government the armed islamic We condemn attacks the strongest but at the same time find it hard to give unequivocal to the Algerian Government. It still has a credibility problem. be unconditional support, as President said just now. counts to isolate the terrorists is to but Algerian cannot do it by National dialogue, with a place everyone and elections in take part, are needed to achieve that objective. Government has taken a few steps along road and must continue, with encouragement from the Union. The people of must again chance to make their views heard. The elections be free and safe. for example, is the Algerian Government doing here to those which do want to cooperate? or not the can succeed is the big The Union try to further this process of and and I think the Algerian would we can stimulate national dialogue, insist on room for a civil society, on fair elections participation and fair terms
 Only in this way does the CouncIl believe tHat thE EuRopEaN UniOn caN contribute to a LAstiNg solution of the crisis iN AlgeRiA. so thE coUncil Takes a lONg-TERm vIeW. THat ViEW iS as foLloWs: the AlGerians musT reSoLve the crisis THeMselves by mEanS of a return to DemOcratiC nAtiONal goVerNment And by cONtinuiNg economiC sTRucturAL adjustMENtS. And To this end the EuropEAn uNion gave AlgeriA 125 milliOn ecU AT The End Of December 1996.
thE EuroPEan CommISsION RecENtly appointed A new delegatE To ALgeria. taLks ON the asSociaTiON agReement are oNgoiNg. High-levEl poliTIcal conTActs are Held reGulArlY. The eUrOpEanS aRE stANdIng BY AlGeria. CooPeRaTion cOntiNUES.

wierSma
madaM PresIdent, we are talKinG todAY abOut AlGeria And qUiTe rigHtly, in My GroUp'S opinion, since AlGeriA is a frighTenInG exAmPle of A Very deEp-rOotEd sociaL confliCT whIcH WE SeE elsewhere too, the seCuLAR sTate clasHing wiTH vIoLEnt fundaMeNtaList GROupinGs. ThE SiTuation iS demorALiZiNg and seEmS hopelEsS. DoZenS more PEoplE have lOst their Lives IN the last few dayS. the present GovERnMENt HAs noT yeT managed to sTamp OUt thE vioLEnCe aND therE seemS tO Be NO political solution tO tHe confLict iN sight. Algeria Look set to bECOMe a kind oF NorTH AFRican YugoslaviA. ModeRate groups HAve no chaNce in The battlE going on bETWeen the GOveRnmEnt And THE aRmed islamic grOUPs. We NaTurally ConDemn the AttAckS in The StRongest teRms, but at ThE sAmE tIme Find iT Hard to giVe UneQuIvoCal suPPort to The AlGeriAn goVErnMent. It sTIlL HAs a cReDiBiliTy pRoBlem. THere CAn bE no uncoNditional SupPOrt, aS tHe presideNt said just now.
whAt counts is To IsoLate thE TErroristS completely. It is easy to agREe on thaT, buT the ALgerIan GovernMenT cannoT do IT by itsElf. NatIonal DiAloGUE, with A PLaCe fOr Everyone anD ELecTions In WhicH all peaCeful parties can takE ParT, are needed to aChiEve tHAT oBjeCTiVE. ThE GOVerNMEnt has taken a few Steps along ThAT rOad and must COntInUe, with eNcouragEment FRom the UNion. The peOple of AlgErIa muST AgaIn have a chaNce to makE their vieWS hearD. thE elecTioNs must Be FreE and sAfe. WhaT, For ExampLe, is thE ALgeriaN GoveRnMent doinG here to persuade those parTies whIch do Not Want to cooPerATe? WHether or nOt thE elections Can SucCeed iS onE Of the Big qUEsTioNS.
The EUropEAn Union caN At LeaST TrY to further tHIS ProCess oF diALogue aNd elEctions and I think tHE Algerian GoverNmenT WOulD weLCome It; We can stimulate NatIoNAL dialoguE, iNsist on room For a civiL sOCiety, On fair ElectiOns with MAXiMUm partIcipAtiOn and fair TerMs
 Only in this way does the  Council b eliev e t hat  t he E urop ean Union canc ontr ibute to a lasting sol ution  o f  the cr isisin Alge r ia . Soth eCou nc i ltakes  along-te rm view. T hat  v iew is as fo l lo ws: the Al ger ians must re sol ve the  c ris i s the mse lvesby mea n s of a  return t od emocra t ic nati o n al  gov ernment and by co n ti n uing economicstruct ur a la d jus tme nts. And t othise nd theE ur o p e anU nion gave Alg eria 125 mi l lio n ECUat  th e  end o f Dec em b er1996.
The E urop ean Commi ssionr ecently appoint ed a n ewdel egat e  t oAlg er i a.T al kso n t he assoc ia ti on ag reem e n t areong oing . Hig h-level polit ica l co n tac ts ar e hel d re gu larly . TheEurop ea ns are standing  byAlgeria.Coo pe rat io n con t inues. 

W ier sma
Mad am Pres i den t, w e  a re talking today a bo u t  A lgeria a nd qui t eri g htly, in  m y G roup ' s  opin ion, si nce Alge ria is afr ighteni ng  examp le  of  averyd eep- rooted  socialconfl i ct which we se e  elsewhere to o ,t h es ecul arstate clash ingw ithviol e nt  fu n damen talis tg ro u pings. The situatio nis dem orali zing and seem s hopeless . D ozens mo re p e op l e have lost th eir l ives in th e  last fe w day s. The p resent Go v e rnment h asnot  ye t m a n ag ed to stamp o u t  the  v iolence  an d there  se ems  to  be  n o politic al solut io nto  t heconfl i ct in si gh t.Al ger ia lo o k setto be come  a  k i ndof Nort h  A f r ican  Y ug osla via .Moder ateg rou ps have  no chanc e i n  the  b at tle goi ng on between  t he Governm en t a nd the a rmed isl amic groups. We natural l y conde mnthe a ttac ks in the  st ronges t t e rms, b ut atthe s am e t i m e fin d it  ha rd  to give u n e qui vocal  s uppo rt to t he Algerian Govern m ent . It still ha s a  cre d i bi lit y  p r obl em .  Th e r e can be no unc onditional  s u pp ort, as th e  Pr es ident s aid jus t now . 
What c ounts isto isolat ethet e rro rists comp letely.It is eas y  to a g re e ontha t, but  t heAlger ian Go v ern mentcannot  d o it b y its el f. Natio nal dialogue, with a pl ace fo r eve ryo ne and el ect i ons  in which  all  peacefulpar tie s can  ta k e par t, a r enee d ed to  ach i eve thato bj ect i v e.  The Govern m e n t h as ta ken a fewstep s along that road and must conti nue, w ith  en c oura ge ment from theUni on . The peop le  of Algeria  must ag ai n  have  a cha nce to  make t h e ir viewshear d.The elect ion sm ust befr ee and sa fe.Wh at, fo r exam p le,i s  the Algerian Go vernm e n t doi n g h ere t opersuad e  tho se parties  which do n ot wan t to  coop erate?Wh etherorno t the elec t ions cansucce ed is o ne  ofthe  big q uest i o ns.
T he E ur ope an Unionc a na tle a sttryto fu rt herthis proc e ss of di alo g ue andel ect i o ns and It h ink the Al ger ian G o v ernment wo u ld w e lc o me it ; we c an sti mulaten ati on al dial ogu e ,  insist o n room fo r  aci vilsociety,  o n fa ir  el ec tions with maxi mum part icipatio n and fa irt erms 
 Only_in this_way does the Council_believe that_the_European Union_can_contribute to a_lasting solution of_the crisis in Algeria._So the Council_takes_a long-term view. That view is as follows: the Algerians must resolve the crisis_themselves_by means_of_a_return to democratic national government_and by continuing economic structural_adjustments. And_to this end the European Union gave Algeria_125_million ECU at_the end of December 1996.
The European Commission recently appointed_a new delegate to Algeria. Talks_on the association_agreement_are_ongoing. High-level political contacts_are held regularly. The Europeans are_standing by Algeria. Cooperation continues.

Wiersma
Madam President,_we are talking today about Algeria and_quite rightly, in my Group's opinion,_since Algeria is a frightening_example of_a very deep-rooted social conflict_which we see_elsewhere too,_the secular state_clashing with violent fundamentalist groupings. The_situation is demoralizing_and seems hopeless. Dozens more people_have_lost their lives_in_the_last few_days. The present_Government_has not_yet_managed to stamp out the violence_and_there seems to be no political solution_to the conflict in_sight._Algeria look set to_become a kind of North_African Yugoslavia. Moderate groups have no_chance in_the battle_going on between the Government and the armed islamic groups. We_naturally condemn the attacks in the_strongest terms, but at_the same_time_find it hard_to_give unequivocal_support to the Algerian Government. It still_has a_credibility problem. There can be no_unconditional support, as the_President_said just now.
What counts is to_isolate the terrorists completely. It is_easy to agree on that,_but_the_Algerian Government cannot do it_by itself. National dialogue, with a_place for everyone_and elections in which all peaceful parties_can_take part, are needed to achieve_that_objective. The Government has taken a_few_steps_along that road and must_continue, with encouragement from the Union._The people of Algeria must again have a chance_to make their_views heard. The elections must_be_free_and safe. What, for example, is the Algerian Government doing_here to_persuade those parties_which do not want to cooperate? Whether or not the_elections can succeed is one of the_big questions.
The European Union can at least try to further this_process of dialogue and elections and I think_the Algerian Government would welcome it; we_can stimulate national dialogue,_insist_on room for a civil society, on_fair_elections_with_maximum participation and_fair terms