People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
 Ministry of  Energy and Mining

 19 ^th World Energy Congress

 Launch of the film "Sahara Odyssey"

Speech of H.E. Chakib Khelil

Sydney, Australia, 5^th -9^th September 2004

Dear Sirs, Ladies,

Above all, let me thank you for inviting me to participate in the launch of the documentary film 'Sahara Odyssey' sponsored by Sonatrach and its foundation, 'The Tassili Foundation'.

This film, as you will discover, is the first achievement of a film about the Algerian Sahara.

The film presents the best research in the field of prehistory, Sahara anthropology in general and Tassili in particular.

Concerning the large Saharan areas, in particular Tassili, you must know that in 1982, the Tassili heritage was recognized as a world heritage by UNESCO. But, before this worldly recognition, one should know that soon after the Independence, Algeria has always made of Tassili a priority and made of it a national park in 1972.

One should know that the Tassili has constituted, at a given time of human history, an important stage in its recognition, as we find the proofs of the existence of human presence and its evolution since 2.5 million years.

It means that, there was continuity that assured knowledge of a space and lead to production of knowledge.

Concerning the energy sector and the hydrocarbons industry where we use advanced technology, the Tassili constitutes the depository of the national technology developed in the prehistory.

This handling of technology is revealed by the archaeological treasures, through the existing arranged pebbles, of drawings, rock paintings, ' 'round bumps " [fabulous paintings on rocks] the Tassili contains. All these treasures are the products of works of important settlement of people with already sophisticated social and cultural practices that constitute a place of technological and economical innovation through the produced ceramics, the practiced domestication of animals, etc.

The ministerial sector of which I am in charge has the responsibility of the exploitation of hydrocarbons, but also, a Sahara which is currently one of the most important ecosystem and the most fragile in the world, and a Sahara which was during the prehistory and the antiquity one of the greatest poles of civilization on Earth.

Thus, one of the most outstanding actions for the enhancement of this heritage has been to bind the prestigious name of the Tassili to that one of Sonatrach as an international oil group, by creating the Sonatrach Tassili Foundation.

This foundation has mentioned in its articles of association, as its principal axis of operation and commitment, the preservation of this natural heritage and the development of the Tassili through actions for the protection of natural resources and cultural wealth, actions of sustainable development and the enhancement of local knowledge aiming at preserving this natural and cultural universal heritage.

'Preserve, protect, restore and develop' is our motto towards this universal heritage the Tassili constitutes.

So, I invite all those who wish to participate in the preservation of this universal heritage to join us in our efforts.

To conclude, I am sure that you will be delighted by the beauty of the landscapes and the wealth of cultural heritage that you will discover through this movie. But, you are all invited to live the reality and to visit the Tassili, which is considered as an important open air museum and that Algeria has really opened to the entire world.