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ALGIERS, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Defense ministers of the 5 + 5 initiative have been meeting on Thursday in Algiers to discuss regional challenges and promote consultations over prevailing issues, including the fight against terrorism.
Algerian Deputy Defense Minister, Army Chief of Staff Gaid Salah said in his opening notes that his country is committed to the 5 + 5 defense initiative as a regional solidarity space.
According to Gaid Saalah, "this meeting represents an important step towards the consolidation of our cooperation and confirms our commitment to coordinate our efforts within the 5 + 5 in transparency, openness and mutual respect for the sake of peace and stability in the region."
"Since it has been launched in 2004, the member nations bordering the Western Mediterranean side have shown real will to establish a strategic consultation covering areas of common interest", he noted, adding that Algeria "is obviously deeply attached to this initiative, to its founding principles and to the mechanisms meant to bring concrete solutions to the threats facing our region."
Gaid Saleh further stressed that the 5+5 initiative is "a key militarily tool to overcome the scourge of terrorism," stressing the readiness of Algeria to share its expertise in the field of countering terrorism.
He further noted that "the international and regional context has witnessed complex geopolitical shifts, which requires more intensive cooperation between regional partners."
The 5+5 Initiative includes nations located on the west of the Mediterranean, covering Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Mauritania, Spain, Italy, France, Portugal and Malta.
The meeting comes a month after the meeting of 5 + 5 Defense Steering Committee in Algiers, which assessed the progress of the action plan of 2016 and finalize that of 2017.
The group aims to establish a framework of cooperation for the development of practical activities in areas of common interest, and facilitate the exchange and sharing of information and experiences with the aim of effective confrontation of the challenges and threats in the region.
It includes maritime surveillance and air security cooperation, in addition to the contribution of the armed forces of member states in civil defense in case of major disasters. Enditem
