ALGIERS — A true “diplomatic revolution” was led by FLN representatives whose tireless international efforts resulted in the inscription of the Algerian question on the agenda of the UN General Assembly in the autumn of 1955, affirmed Wednesday in Algiers the Mujahed and former diplomat, Noureddine Djoudi.

Speaking at El Moudjahid newspaper's Forum dedicated to the national day of Algerian diplomacy, the former diplomat paid “special tribute” to the late Abdelkader Chanderli who “was at the source of Algerian diplomatic action at the United Nations.”

He also commended “the extraordinary and remarkable work of M'Hamed Yazid and Hocine Ait Ahmed.” 

Djoudi said that after the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic (GPRA) was formed, Chanderli became its permanent representative to both the United Nations in New York and in Washington—roles he maintained into the early years of Algeria's independence.

Djoudi noted that Abdelkader Chanderli, a journalist when the national liberation war broke out, successfully “built strong links with the American press and the major labor union (AFL-CIO) which had an enormous influence on American policy.

These links subsequently allowed him to “have direct relations, more than friendly, with the Kennedy family,” he pointed out during this meeting entitled “Algerian diplomacy at the United Nations: from Abdelkader Chanderli to Amar Bendjama.” 

In this respect, he affirmed that John Fitzgerald Kennedy's speech in favor of Algeria's independence before the American Senate on 2 July 1957 was “practically written by Abdelkader Chanderli.”

Regarding the establishment of the Algerian diplomatic apparatus, Djoudi said that “Algerian diplomacy was born out of pain and in the wake of its struggle for independence.”

“Algerian diplomacy was not born in great schools for training diplomats; It was born within the framework of the armed struggle for the country's independence. We started from nothing—no embassies, no diplomatic protection— just basic FLN representatives, notably in Europe,” he said.

Today, the former diplomat welcomes the “revival” of Algeria's diplomatic dynamic, noting that it has remained “true to its principles adopted during the liberation war.” 

“Since President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's election, we have seen a restoration of direction—Algerian diplomacy has returned to its former standing. Its voice carries more weight now,” he noted.

He further applauded President Tebboune's positions on the Palestinian and Sahrawi issues.