On July 5, H. E. Mr. Messaoud Mehila, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria to the Republic of Bulgaria,

hosted a reception at the Central Military Club in Sofia to mark the 62nd anniversary of Independence Day. The event was attended by officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps, the Algerian diaspora in Bulgaria, and friends of Algeria.

In an exceptionally warm and friendly atmosphere, H. E. Mr. Messaoud Mehila welcomed his guests with a speech. He first greeted all Algerians present at the celebration, dedicated to the 62nd anniversary of Independence Day and Youth Day. He also extended greetings to the many Bulgarian friends who joined the event to share this significant occasion with the Algerians.

H. E. Mr. Messaoud Mehila briefly recalled the strong ties between Algeria and Bulgaria, from the Glorious War of Liberation of Algeria to recent years. "This inspiring legacy gives us the strength to build even stronger ties and more active cooperation in the future. In 2023, Algeria was Bulgaria's second most important trading partner in Africa, after Egypt, with imports from Bulgaria reaching nearly 700 million euros."

The ambassador emphasized Algeria's commitment to involving its Bulgarian friends in Algerian celebrations, recalling Bulgaria's assistance during the Revolution and its invaluable contribution to Algeria's development in the early years of independence: "We must not forget that the connection between Algeria and Bulgaria is very old and has been built over many years."

H. E. Mr. Messaoud Mehila highlighted Algeria's significant progress in recent years, particularly in industrial and agricultural production, stating, "According to the International Monetary Fund, Algeria is the third-largest economy in Africa, after South Africa and Egypt. It is the only African country without external debt."

He also pointed out, "The upcoming presidential elections on September 7, 2024, will allow Algeria to continue confidently and peacefully on the path of democracy, progress, and development. The main goal remains the well-being of the people, while strengthening the numerous social benefits - free education, free healthcare, social housing, unemployment benefits, etc.

Algeria aims to soon be part of the developing countries. The main motto is sovereignty and hard work to strengthen the achievements of recent years, particularly in agriculture, where the country has moved from dependency on foreign nations to almost self-sufficiency (exports in 2023 reached 400 million euros)."

After the speech, the guests enjoyed a documentary on Algeria's development, a film showcasing the country's cultural monuments, and beautiful videos of unique traditional costumes. Finally, they sampled traditional specialties of Algerian cuisine.

The photos are provided by the Embassy of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria in Bulgaria.
Above: H. E. Mr. Messaoud Mehila, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria to the Republic of Bulgaria