Bilateral Counterterrorism Contact Group Launched Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the Department of State Daniel Benjamin conducted a two day visit to Algeria on March 3-4. Mr. Benjamin and Mr. Kamel Rezzag-Bara, Presidential Advisor and Coordinator of the Inter-ministerial External Counterterrorism Action Group co-chaired the works of the first meeting of the Bilateral Contact Group on Algerian-American Counterterrorism and Security Cooperation. During the meeting, US and Algerian delegations exchanged information and analyses on the evolution of terrorist threats in both countries and at the international level, development of links between terrorism and various types of organized crime, and expansion of bilateral cooperation. US and Algerian delegations also examined multilateral counterterrorism cooperation. The launch of the Bilateral Contact Group on Algerian-American Counterterrorism and Security Cooperation represents a historic moment for the development of bilateral security cooperation. This mechanism will give a new qualitative impetus to the US-Algerian strategic partnership. This mechanism will help structure dialogue and consultation, and incorporate all dimensions of cooperation, including political, diplomatic, security, legal, financial, operational, or technical assistance. The second meeting of the Bilateral Contact Group on Algerian-American Counterterrorism and Security Cooperation will be held next year in Washington, DC. The United States ...