Algeria–Poland relations

Algerian-Polish relations
Map indicating locations of Algeria and Poland

Algeria
Poland

Algeria and Poland are members of the Union for the Mediterranean and the United Nations. Both nations established diplomatic relations in 1962.[1]

History

Following the restoration of independent Poland after World War II, honorary consulates of Poland were established in Algiers and Oran in 1922 and 1932, respectively, and both operated until 1945.[2]

Poles and Algerians both fought against Nazi Germany in World War II, including in the Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944.[3] Algerian prisoners of war were held by the Germans alongside Polish and other Allied POWs in the Stalag II-B, Stalag VIII-C and Stalag XXI-A POW camps, operated in Czarne, Żagań and Ostrzeszów, respectively.[4][5][6] Both Algerian and Polish POWs were subjected to poor conditions resulting in high mortality.[4]

Poland supported the Algerian War of Independence, and demanded the establishment of independent Algeria at the UN.[7] There were unofficial contacts between Polish representatives and the National Liberation Front.[8] The Polish Red Cross donated funds and goods to Algerian refugees in Morocco and Tunisia, and Poland admitted Algerian youth to Polish schools and universities.[7] Poland recognized the interim Algerian government even before the Algerian declaration of independence from 1962.[9] The Embassy of Poland in Algiers was opened in 1962.[9] A trade agreement and an economic and technical cooperation agreement were signed between Algeria and Poland in 1963,[9] and a cultural cooperation agreement in 1964.[10]

Modern relations

Ministers of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski and Ahmed Attaf in Warsaw in 2024

Poland sent a rescue squad to help the relief operation after the 2003 Boumerdès earthquake in Algeria,[11] and the Polish Medical Mission sent medical supplies.[12]

In 2014, a defense cooperation agreement was signed in Algiers.[13]

Poland and Algeria enjoy a significant relations in business.[14] In 2016, Poland and Algeria abolished visa requirements for diplomatic passport holders.[15]

The Polish foreign minister had paid visit to Algeria in 2017 to boost trade and cooperation between two countries.[16][17] Algerian Minister Mustapha Gitouni also boosts energy cooperation with Poland.[18] Algeria considers Poland as an important partner in Europe.[19]

Resident diplomatic missions

  • Embassy of Algeria in Warsaw
    Embassy of Algeria in Warsaw

See also

References

  1. ^ Bilateral relations Poland-Algeria (in French)
  2. ^ Ceranka, Paweł; Szczepanik, Krzysztof (2020). Urzędy konsularne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej 1918–1945. Informator archiwalny (in Polish). Warszawa: Naczelna Dyrekcja Archiwów Państwowych, Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych. pp. 28, 298. ISBN 978-83-65681-93-5.
  3. ^ Sobieraj, Maciej; Sobieraj, Dominik (2009). "Bitwa o jedną górę". Kombatant (in Polish). No. 5 (221). Warszawa. p. 11. ISSN 0867-8952.
  4. ^ a b Megargee, Geoffrey P.; Overmans, Rüdiger; Vogt, Wolfgang (2022). The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos 1933–1945. Volume IV. Indiana University Press, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. p. 394. ISBN 978-0-253-06089-1.
  5. ^ Stanek, Piotr; Terpińska-Greszczeszyn, Justyna (2011). "W cieniu "wielkiej ucieczki". Kompleks obozow jenieckich Sagan (1939–1945)". Łambinowicki rocznik muzealny (in Polish). 34. Opole: 128.
  6. ^ Graf, Władysław (1992). "Ostrzeszów: obozy jenieckie okresu 1939–1940. Część 1". Zeszyty Ostrzeszowskie (in Polish). No. 15. Ostrzeszowskie Centrum Kultury. p. 11.
  7. ^ a b Knopek 2006, p. 160.
  8. ^ Knopek 2006, p. 144.
  9. ^ a b c Knopek 2006, p. 145.
  10. ^ Umowa między Rządem Polskiej Rzeczypospolitej Ludowej a Rządem Algierskiej Republiki Demokratycznej i Ludowej o współpracy kulturalnej, podpisana w Algierze dnia 22 lipca 1964 r., Dz. U., 1967, vol. 12, No. 49
  11. ^ "Polscy strażacy wylecieli do Algierii". RMF 24 (in Polish). 23 May 2003. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  12. ^ "Misja Medyczna z pomocą Algierii". Puls Medycyny (in Polish). 2 June 2003. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  13. ^ Umowa między Rządem Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej a Rządem Algierskiej Republiki Ludowo-Demokratycznej o współpracy w dziedzinie obronności, podpisana w Algierze dnia 2 grudnia 2014 r., M.P., 2018, No. 954
  14. ^ "POLAND AND ALGERIA – STRONG PARTNERS IN BUSINESS". Ageron.pl.
  15. ^ "Poland and Algeria abolish visas for diplomatic passport holders". Mfa.gov.pl. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  16. ^ "Polish FM on visit to Algeria, Tunisia". Radio Poland. 25 November 2017.
  17. ^ Boulahbel, Farid (25 November 2017). "Polish MOFA pays two-day visit to Algeria: "Poland considers Algeria a strategic partner with excellent prospects in Africa and the Arab world." 25/11/2017". Algerianembassy.ug. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  18. ^ "ALGERIA : GUITOUNI INVITES POLAND, TURKEY TO BOOST ENERGY COOPERATION WITH ALGERIA". Emerging-africa.org. 28 August 2017.
  19. ^ "Algeria, "important" partner for Poland". Algerianembassy.org.[permanent dead link‍]
  20. ^ Embassy of Algeria in Warsaw
  21. ^ Embassy of Poland in Algiers

Bibliography