Algiers – Algeria reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to multilateral cooperation and international legality on Saturday, as Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the National Community Abroad, and African Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, signed at the United Nations Headquarters in New York the “Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction” (BBNJ).
The signing ceremony took place in the presence of United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and Legal Counsel, Mrs. Eleanor Hammarskjöld.
This historic step, part of Attaf’s participation in the high-level segment of the United Nations General Assembly, highlights Algeria’s dedication to global efforts aimed at preserving biodiversity in international waters. According to the Ministry’s statement, the agreement “seeks to enhance the protection of high seas biodiversity and ensure its rational and sustainable use for the benefit of all humanity.”
By adhering to this convention, Algeria not only consolidates its role as a key actor in defending international law but also reinforces its principled stance in promoting just causes, especially regarding the right of peoples to sovereignty over their natural resources. In contrast, the Moroccan regime continues to flout international resolutions by looting the natural wealth of occupied Western Sahara in complicity with foreign powers, in total disregard of the rights of the Sahrawi people.
Algeria’s commitment in New York sends a clear message: respect for international legality and the sustainable management of global resources must prevail over exploitation, illegality, and colonial practices still persisting in the region. This renewed international engagement strengthens Algeria’s credibility as a responsible player and a defender of both environmental integrity and the inalienable rights of peoples under occupation.
