Brussels, 22/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - EU Counter-terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove led an EU delegation which travelled to Algiers for discussions on cooperation between the EU and Algeria on combating terrorism in the Sahel. During the visit, from Saturday 18 to Tuesday 21 June, de Kerchove held meetings with inter alia Kamel Reag Bara, Adviser to President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and Minister for Maghreb and African Affairs Abdelkader Massahel. According to the Algerian minister, discussions focused on “the situation in the Sahel and the challenges facing the region, that is to say, tackling terrorism, combating organised crime, and development”, the APS agency reported on Monday 20 June. For de Kerchove, there is “an intrinsic link between security and development”, particularly in this region which faces a vicious circle of poverty which breeds criminality. These discussions were also intended to prepare the meeting, scheduled for September, on the security of the countries of the Sahel (Algeria, Mali, Mauritania and Niger). The EU and the United States will attend this meeting. (J.K./transl.rt)