Djelloul Khatib

Once Algerian independence was achieved, Khatib at the age of 26, was appointed as Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Defence (1962-1965) and then Chief of Staff of the Presidency (1965-1970).[12][13] He was tasked by Boumediene, then President of the country, to drive a number of defining initiatives of his administration.

Djelloul Khatib set up the Comedor,[14] a think tank in charge of developing the urban planning of the capital city of Algiers and to which contributed world renowned architects such as Oscar Niemeyer. Khatib also organized the transfer back to the homeland of the ashes of the Emir Abdelkader, an early leader against France colonial invasion in the mid-19th century who died in exile in Damascus.

Khatib also managed the negotiations that led to the signature of the Franco-Algerian agreement of 1968 – which regulates, until now, much of the administrative links between both countries.

He was one of the decision makers that made possible the success of the Algiers panafrican festival of 1969. Khatib was also tasked by President Boumediene to organize the visits to Algiers of personalities such as the Che Gueverra or Senator Edward Kennedy.[15] The meeting with the latter helped prepare the ground for a longstanding partnership between the United States and Algeria in the Hydrocarbons sector.

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  President Boumedienne condecorates Djelloul Khatib, 1965, Algiers
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  President Houari Boumediene, Foreign Minister Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Chief of Staff Djelloul Khatib, presentation of diplomatic credentials by the Ambassador of the United States, Palais du Peuple, Algiers, 1967

As head of the Comedor, Khatib worked intensely with Oscar Niemeyer.[16] This collaboration made possible the construction of a number of high-profile architectural projects such as the first university since the independence of Algeria in Constantine.[17][18] Other projects resulting from this cooperation are today, even if not executed, an essential part of Oscar Niemeyer's legacy (Algiers mosque, Algiers Civic Center).[19][20][21][22]

Khatib was appointed Wali (Governor) of Batna (1973-1976), Constantine – the third largest city of the country (1976-1980)[23][24] and Oran – the second largest city of the country (1980-1982).[25]

He was named Secretary of State in charge of the Civil Service (1982-1984). During his tenure, he was charged by Prime Minister Abdelghani[26] to coordinate the visit of George H. W. Bush in 1983, the first one of a Vice-President of the United States to Algeria.

Vice President George H.W. Bush and Djelloul Khatib, Algiers, 1983

Djelloul Khatib was then appointed Ambassador to Argentina (1982-1984).[27] He intensified economic and technical collaboration between both countries, particularly in civil nuclear power. These efforts led by 1989 to the construction in Algeria of the NOUR nuclear research reactor. As a mark of gratitude for strengthening the ties between Argentina and Algeria, President Raul Alfonsin, awarded him with the "es:Orden del Libertador San Martín".[28]

H.M. Juan Carlos I and Djelloul Khatib, Madrid, 1988

He was then posted as Ambassador to Spain[29] between 1988 and 1989. There he marshalled the support to build the Maghreb–Europe gas pipeline between Algeria, Morocco and Spain. He also facilitated informal peace talks on the Basque conflict.[30]