U.S. keen to benefit from Algeria's counterterrorism experience: official

ALGIERS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Alan Patterson said Tuesday the U.S. is keen to benefit from Algeria's experience in combating terrorism.

Following his meeting with Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel in Algiers, Patterson told reporters that the talks were held as part of the eighth Algerian-U.S. military dialogue.

Patterson said they discussed the issue of strengthening security consultation through the exchange of information and experience, especially as Algeria plays a pivotal role in the fight against terrorism.

The U.S. official added that the U.S. would like to benefit from Algeria's experience in order to contribute to the achievement of security and stability in the region and the world.

For his part, Masahel said he discussed with the U.S. official ways of strengthening bilateral relations, and exchanged views over issues of common interest, including the situation in the region, especially in Libya, Mali and the Sahel countries in general.

He said the meeting was "fruitful" as it enabled the two parties to enhance bilateral cooperation and coordination in terms of the fight against terrorism, whether bilaterally, within the United Nations, or on the level of the Global Forum against Terrorism.

Algeria and the U.S. are due to hold their fifth Bilateral Strategic Dialogue on Security and Counterterrorism in June in Algiers.

The dialogue is to assess bilateral counterterrorism partnership amid emerging threats in the North African region, Algerian Foreign Ministry said days ago, following the visit of Principal Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the U.S. Department of State Alina Romanowski.

Algeria also is due to to host in April a conference on the international fight against terrorism and cutting off financial sources for terrorists, as part of the Global Counterterrorism Forum held in collaboration with the African Union. Enditem