EXECUTIVE SUMMARY and ensure effective participation by all stakeholders. The NGC subsequently organised a series of workshops, with working groups formed around each theme. 1.6 The formalisation of the draft country self-assessment review was discussed by the stakeholders. This draft report was submitted to an Inter-Ministerial Committee on 7 August 2006, and then to a Government Council on 29 August 2006. The latter agreed that the process should be finalised in strict compliance with the provisions of the APRM, including the preparation of a draft Programme of Action. These two documents were submitted to the APRM in November, for the information of the international review team that had visited Algeria between 10 November and 5 December 2006. 1.2 The Country Review Mission 1.7 Following the CSM and the development of the work of the NGC, Mrs MarieAngélique Savané led an international Country Review Mission (CRM) to Algeria from 10 November to 5 December 2006. The CRM fielded a team of 21 members, representing 14 African member countries, all members of the African Union (AU), the APR Secretariat, experts from the strategic partner institutions – AfDB, ECA and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as well as independent experts in the four APRM thematic areas. 1.8 In accordance with the mandate of the Country Self-Assessment Report (CSAR), the objective of the CRM was: (i) to hold the widest possible consultations with all the stakeholders in order to extend and supplement the CSAR; (ii) to review the draft Programme of Action prepared by the country and make appropriate recommendations; (iii) to ascertain that the assessment process was technically competent, credible and free of political manipulation; and (iv) to establish consensus with the stakeholders on issues and challenges, as well as on recommendations that could improve governance in the country. 1.9 During an audience with His Excellency President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of the People‟s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Mrs Marie-Angélique Savané commended the manifest commitment of Algerian leaders to the APR process. She then gave an overview of the key and emerging issues raised in Algeria‟s CSAR. President Bouteflika assured the CRM that Algeria would be a glasshouse and reiterated his personal commitment, and that of the Algerian authorities, to ensure that the process took place with the utmost transparency. He urged the CRM to show professionalism and objectiveness in its work. 1.10 The CRM was also received in audience by the Head of Government, His Excellency Mr Abdelaziz Belkhadem, at the start and on completion of its visit. On both occasions, he reaffirmed that the Algerian government placed a premium on promoting good governance in all sectors of political, economic and social life, and reiterated his commitment to deepening cooperation in this regard with the APRM, to which Algeria had acceded voluntarily. He also 2