 rights abuses in Algeria, on the part of the Government too. The European Parliament has also criticized the way in which Algeria deals with islamic fundamentalism. The Council is aware of this and will not shrink from urging the Algerian Government to adopt a controlled approach to the crisis. In so doing it must not, I repeat not, overstep the mark on human rights.
The speedy conclusion of an association agreement with Algeria may be a favourable political factor in that country's efforts to restore law and order and democracy. The Council thus hopes that the Commission will be able to bring the negotiations which have just started to a satisfactory conclusion within the near future. This association agreement will after all offer the European Union the chance of a structured political dialogue with Algeria and in the context of that we can raise the question of the Algerian Government's human rights policy with it.
The only way out of the crisis seems to be for Algeria to hold fast to its policy of a return to democracy, to legitimate government. The Algerian Government has already taken a number of important steps in that direction. For example the 1995 presidential elections and the 1996 change to the constitution. The Council is expressly urging Algeria to complete by the end of 1997 a next step in this vital series of measures leading to democratic legitimation, namely the holding of general elections.
To conclude, Madam President, in the Council's view Algeria still deserves international trust and support, especially from the European Union, in its efforts to overcome this deep and serious crisis. It is not merely in the economic interest of both sides that this European support should still be forthcoming. It is also part of the spirit of political partnership which must inform our cooperation with Algeria. That spirit is evident in the Union's efforts towards an association agreement with Algeria. It reflects the desire of all of us for cooperation with the Mediterranean region as part of the so-called &#x02BC;Barcelona process'. This desire for dialogue does not mean unconditional support. Quite the contrary, we are equipping ourselves with instruments which will enable us to be both critical and constructive.
And I am convinced that the Council will persevere wisely with its present course as long as the Algerian crisis continues. This course comprises two essential elements. One: the maintenance of European faith in and European support for Algeria and the Algerian Government in their efforts to give a stronger democratic legitimacy to the administration. Two: the continuance of pressure for that democratization and better respect for human rights.
rights abuses in Algeria, on the part of the Government excessively. The European Parliament has besides criticized the way in which Algeria deal with muslim fundamentalism. The Council is aware of this and will not shrink from urging the Algerian Government to assume a controlled approach to the crisis. In thus doing it must not, I repeat not, exceed the mark on human rights. 
 The quick termination of an association agreement with Algeria may be a favorable political factor in that country's attempt to restore law and order and majority rule. The Council thus hopes that the Commission will be able to institute the negotiations which have merely started to a satisfactory conclusion within the near future. This association agreement will after wholly offer the European Union the chance of a structured political dialogue with Algeria and in the context of that we can raise the question of the Algerian Government's human right policy with it. 
 The only way out of the crisis seems to be for Algeria to hold fast to its policy of a return to democracy, to legitimate government. The Algerian Government has already taken a number of significant steps in that direction. For exercise the 1995 presidential election and the 1996 change to the constitution. The Council is expressly urging Algeria to dispatch by the end of 1997 a future step in this vital serial of measures leading to democratic legitimation, namely the holding of general elections. 
 To conclude, Madam President, in the Council's view Algeria still deserves international trust and documentation, especially from the European Union, in its attempt to overcome this deep and serious crisis. It is not merely in the economic interest of both sides that this European documentation should still be forthcoming. It is also character of the spirit of political partnership which must inform our cooperation with Algeria. That spirit is evident in the Union's efforts towards an affiliation agreement with Algeria. It reflects the desire of all of us for cooperation with the Mediterranean region as part of the so - called & # x02BC;Barcelona procedure'. This desire for dialogue does not entail unconditional documentation. Quite the contrary, we are equip ourselves with instruments which will enable us to be both critical and constructive. 
 And I am convinced that the Council will persevere wisely with its present course as long as the Algerian crisis continues. This course consist two essential component. One: the maintenance of European faith in and European support for Algeria and the Algerian Government in their efforts to give a strong democratic legitimacy to the administration. Two: the duration of pressure for that democratization and better regard for human rights.
 rihhts abuses in Algeria, ok the part of thg Tovernkent tko. The Ejropean Parliament has also rritucizee the way in which Algdria deald with iwlammc fundamentalism. The Comucil jd awcrx of this and wlll not shrhnk from urginc ghz Algerian Government to adopt a conerolled aoproach to the crixys. Ih so doing it must not, I repeat nof, oversuep the mark on hukan rights.
The speedy conclksioj of an associatioj agreement witr Algeria may be a favolxable politjcal factor in that country's efworts to restorg maa and order end deiocracy. The Gpuncil thus hppes that the Gommivsiin will be able to brmng the negotiations which haee just started to q watisxactmry zincuusjoi wjthin hhe near futude. This assiciation agreement eijo after all orfer tre European Union the chance of a structuged lolitical dialogue with Algeria and in the clntext of that we can raise the question of the Algerian Gmvernjdnt'w mumav rlghts policy with it.
The only way out of the cwjsos seems to be fjr Algeria yo hpjd fast to itr polieg kf a return to demlcracy, jo legutimate gjvermment. The Algerian Governmebt has alreaby raken a number of nmportant stzps in that direction. For example che 1995 pdesidential electiona and the 1996 change to tve constitution. The Councij is exprxssly urging Alggria to complete hy thc end of 1997 a next stfp in tvis vital deries of measures leading to dxkocratic legothmanion, namejy thc holding of gegeral electionx.
To conelude, Oadam Prespdent, in vhe Council's view Algeria dtill deservxs internwtiobal rrust ava support, espevially from the Euripean Union, in its efwkrts to overcomz uhus deep and setiojs srpsix. Yd is not meraly kn gne ecunomic intevesg of both sides that thiv Eudopean support shoilq still ve forthsoming. It is slso part of the skirit mf 'olitival partnership which must inform our coopfrabion with Algqria. That spirit is evident in the Union's efforts towarvs an association agregment with Algeria. It veflects the desiwe of all of us for cooperatiin with the Medittrranean region as part of tha so-cwlled &#x02BC;Barcelona process'. This desire for dialogue does not mean uncondirional support. Quife tne cottxarv, we arq eqni'ping ourselves wpth instruments which will enablx us to be bjth critical and constructivr.
Avd I am convivced that the Council wiml persefere wisely with its present coirse as long as the Algevian crisus cohtinues. Thms course comprises ywo esventiql elemwnts. One: the maingensnge of Eurooean fcith in and European support for Qlgeriq wnd the Algerian Government ln thepr effotts to give a strknged demozratic legitikacy to the adkinistration. Two: the cjntinuance of kressure for thst demobratization aid better revpect for human rights.
rights abuses in Algeria, on the part Government The European has also criticized deals islamic fundamentalism. The is aware of and will not shrink from urging Algerian Government to adopt a controlled approach to the crisis. In so doing must not, I repeat not, overstep the mark on human rights. The speedy of association with may be a favourable political factor in that country's efforts to restore law and order and The Council thus hopes that the Commission will able to bring the which have just started to satisfactory within the future. association will after all the European Union the chance of a structured political dialogue with Algeria and in the context of we can question of Algerian human policy with it. way out of the crisis seems Algeria to hold fast to its policy of return to to legitimate government. The Algerian Government already taken a number of important steps in direction. For example the 1995 presidential elections and the 1996 change to the constitution. The expressly urging Algeria to by the end 1997 next in vital series measures leading to democratic legitimation, namely the holding of general elections. conclude, Madam President, in the Council's view Algeria still deserves and especially from the Union, in its efforts overcome deep and serious crisis. not in of sides this European support should be forthcoming. It is also of the spirit of our cooperation with Algeria. That spirit is evident the Union's efforts towards an association agreement Algeria. It reflects the desire of all of us for cooperation with Mediterranean region of the so-called &#x02BC;Barcelona process'. This desire for does not mean unconditional Quite the contrary, we are equipping ourselves with instruments will us to both critical and And I am that the Council wisely with present as Algerian crisis continues. This course comprises essential One: the maintenance of European in support for Algeria and the Algerian Government in their efforts to give a stronger democratic the administration. Two: the of for that democratization and better respect for human rights.
 rights abuses in Algeria, on thE part of the goverNmeNt tOo. the EUropEan Parliament hAS alsO criticized the way in whiCh AlgErIA deaLS wIth isLamic fuNDaMENtaLiSm. the coUNcIl is aWarE of this And will not ShrInK from urging tHE ALgerian GovErnMent to adopt a ConTrolleD aPprOAch to The CrisiS. In so dOIng it mUst not, I rePeAT not, ovERstep thE MArK on hUman rights.
The speeDY cONclusion of an asSociatIoN AgREEmeNt wIth Algeria MaY be a fAVourablE PoLITIcaL Factor in that cOuntry's effoRTs tO restoRe Law ANd ordeR and dEmOCraCy. The CounciL thuS hopes thaT the CoMMission WIll be abLe to brIng The NegoTIaTiOns WhICh hAVe JusT StaRted to a sAtIsFactoRy coNCLUSion WitHin tHe neaR future. This asSocIatiON agReemeNt wilL aftEr All ofFer the europEaN Union the chance Of a sTructured PolItIcaL dIalogUE with ALgeRia And in thE contexT Of tHaT WE CaN raise the question oF tHE alGerian GoVernmeNT's HuMAn rights PoLicY witH IT.
The oNly wAY oUt of the cRisis sEEmS tO be for ALgEria to HoLd fAst To its POlicY of a reTurn to deMocraCY, to legitimate gOVernment. The AlGErIAN GOVernMenT has already TakeN A numBer oF ImPorTAnt stEps in ThAT dIRection. For example thE 1995 pResideNtial Elections and tHe 1996 change to THE ConstituTion. tHe cOuncil is expresSly urGing AlgeriA To compleTe by tHe end of 1997 a Next step iN THis vital SerIes Of mEasUREs Leading to demoCRAtic LeGitimatIon, Namely tHe hOldIng Of gEnEral electIons.
To coNcLuDe, maDam presiDEnt, in the coUncIl'S viEw AlgERia stiLl desErveS iNtERnaTional tRUsT ANd suPpOrT, espEciAlLy froM the eUroPean UniOn, in its efForTS to oVeRcOme this Deep and seriouS cRisis. It is nOt MerEly in tHE Economic Interest of both sides that THis EuroPeaN suppOrt sHould stilL be ForthcOmiNG. It is aLso parT of thE sPirIT Of polITIcAl pArTnership whICH muSt infOrM our CooperaTion with Algeria. ThaT SpiRit is evident iN thE UniON'S eFfoRTs TOwaRdS An aSSOciation agreemeNt with AlgeRiA. it Reflects thE DesIrE of all oF us for cOoperATion witH the MeditErranean rEgIon aS PArt Of the so-calLed &#x02BC;BaRcelona prOCess'. THIs DesirE foR dialoGuE doEs not Mean unCOndItionAl suppOrT. Quite The coNtRary, we arE equipping ourselves with InstruMents WhiCh will enaBle US to Be both criTicaL and constrUctIve.
and I aM coNVinceD thaT ThE CoUNcil wIll pERsevere wiSElY wiTH ItS present couRSE As lOng as The aLgeriaN criSis continues. This cOUrse comprises tWo esSENtiAl eLEmenTs. one: the maintenaNce Of eURopean faItH in and EuropEan suppoRt FOr AlgEria anD the AlGerian GOVErNMent in TheiR efForts to giVe a StROnger deMoCrATic legItimAcY to the AdminiSTratION. Two: the continuanCe of pRESsure FOr tHat deMoCratizaTIon aNd better reSpect for humAn righTs.
 rights abuses in Algeria,  on the pa rt of  th e G ov ernm enttoo. The Europ e an P arliament has also cri ticiz ed thew ay  in w hich Al g er i a  de al swit hi sl amicfun damenta lism. TheCou nc il is awareo fthis and w ill  not shrinkfro m urgi ng  th e  Alge ria n Gov ernmen t  to ad opt a con tr o lled a p proacht o  t he c risis. In so doin g  i t  must not, I r epeatno t ,o v ers tep  the markon  huma n  rights . 
T h e spe e dy conclusion  of an asso c iat ion ag re eme n t with  Alge ri a  ma y be a favo urab le politi cal fa c tor int hat cou ntry's  ef for ts t o  r es tor el awa nd  or d erand demo cr ac y. Th e Co u n c i l th ushope s tha t the Commiss ion  wil l  be  able  to b ring  t he ne gotiat ionswh ich have just s tart ed to a s ati sf act or y con c lusion  wi thi n the n ear fut u re.  T h i s  a ssociation agreeme nt w il l afterall of f er  t h e Europe an  Un iont h e cha nceo fa struct ured p o li ti cal dia lo gue wi th  Al ger ia an d  inthe co ntext of  that we can raise t h e question of th e Al g eria n G overnment's  hum a n ri ghts po lic y  with  it.Th e  o n ly way out of the c ri sis se ems t o be for Alge ria to hol d f ast to i ts p o li c y of a returnto de mocracy, t o  legitim ate g overnmen t. The Al g e rian Gov ern men t h asa l re ady taken a n u m berof  import ant  stepsintha t d ire ct ion. Forexampleth e19 95  pr eside n tial ele ct ion sand  the1 996 ch angeto t he  c o nst itution .  T h e  Cou nc il  isexp re sslyurgi n g A lgeriato comple teb y th een d of 19 97 a next ste pin this vi ta l s erieso f  measure s leading to democratic legitim ati on, n amel y the hol din g of g ene r al ele ctions .
Toco ncl u d e, Ma d a mPre si dent, in t h e  Co uncil 's  vie w Alger ia still deservesi nte rnational tru stands u pp ort ,  e s pec ia l lyf r om the European  Union, in  i t sefforts to ove rc ome thi s deepand s e rious c risis. It  is not m er elyi n  th e economic  interes t of both sides th at th isEurope an  su pport  shoul d  st ill b e fort hc oming.  It i salso par t of the spirit of poli ticalpartn ers hip which  mu s t i nform our  coo peration w ith  Al geria . T h at sp irit is  ev i dentin t h e Union's ef for t s  t owards an a s s o cia tionagr e ementwith  Algeria. It refl e cts the desire  ofa l l o f u s  for  c ooperation wit h t he M editerra ne an region a s part o ft he so -calle d &#x0 2BC;Bar c e lo n a proc ess' . T his desir e f or dialogu edo e s notmean  u ncondi tional supp o r t. Quite the con trary , we ar e  eq uippi ng  oursel v es w ith instru ments which  willenab le us  to bebo th cri tic al  and const r uctive.
A nd Iam conv in cedtha t theCoun c i l wil l pe rs eve re wisely w it h  i ts pre sent  cour se  aslong as t h e Algeri anc risis c on tin u e s. Thi s  c o u rse compri ses  twoe s sential el e ment s .O ne: t he mai ntenan ce of E u rop ea n faith  in a nd Europe an suppor t  fo rAlge ria andth e Al ge ria nGovernment in t heir eff orts tog i ve a s tro n gerd emocra ti c legitimacy  to t he adminis t r ati on. Two :  th e c ont inua nce  ofp ressure for that democra tiza tiona ndbette r res pe ct for h u manrights.
 rights_abuses in_Algeria, on the part_of the_Government_too. The_European_Parliament has also_criticized the way_in which Algeria deals_with islamic fundamentalism._The_Council is aware of this and will not shrink from urging the Algerian Government_to_adopt a_controlled_approach_to the crisis. In so_doing it must not, I_repeat not,_overstep the mark on human rights.
The speedy conclusion_of_an association agreement_with Algeria may be a favourable political factor in_that country's efforts to restore law_and order and_democracy._The_Council thus hopes that_the Commission will be able to_bring the negotiations which have just_started to a satisfactory conclusion within the_near future. This association agreement will_after all offer the European_Union the_chance of a structured political_dialogue with Algeria_and in_the context of_that we can raise the question_of the Algerian_Government's human rights policy with it.
The_only_way out of_the_crisis_seems to_be for Algeria_to_hold fast_to_its policy of a return to_democracy,_to legitimate government. The Algerian Government has_already taken a number_of_important steps in that_direction. For example the 1995_presidential elections and the 1996 change_to the_constitution. The_Council is expressly urging Algeria to complete by the end of_1997 a next step in this_vital series of measures_leading to_democratic_legitimation, namely the_holding_of general_elections.
To conclude, Madam President, in the Council's_view Algeria_still deserves international trust and support,_especially from the European_Union,_in its efforts to overcome this_deep and serious crisis. It is_not merely in the economic_interest_of_both sides that this European_support should still be forthcoming. It_is also part_of the spirit of political partnership which_must_inform our cooperation with Algeria. That_spirit_is evident in the Union's efforts_towards_an_association agreement with Algeria. It_reflects the desire of all of_us for cooperation with the Mediterranean region as part_of the so-called_&#x02BC;Barcelona process'. This desire for_dialogue_does_not mean unconditional support. Quite the contrary, we are equipping_ourselves with_instruments which will_enable us to be both critical and constructive.
And I am_convinced that the Council will persevere wisely_with its present course as long as the Algerian crisis continues._This course comprises two essential elements. One: the_maintenance of European faith in and European_support for Algeria and_the_Algerian Government in their efforts to give_a_stronger_democratic_legitimacy to the_administration. Two: the_continuance of pressure_for that_democratization and better_respect for_human rights.