French FM in Algeria for strengthening relations
Algeria-France, Politics, 7/13/2004

France's foreign minister Michael Barneieh who arrived in Algeria yesterday in a visit which lasts for two days to strengthen economic and political relations between the two countries, denied the existence of any " French- American competition" over Algeria, and thereby denying what the Algerian press pointed at during the past phase.

The French FM held during his visit talks with the Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika and the Algerian foreign minister Abdul Aziz Balkhadem as well as senior Algerian officials. This visit, however, comes following the visit carried out by the French President Jacque Chirac to Algeria on April 15, just one week after the Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika won a five- year long Presidential elections. Officials said that the visit of the French FM will avail drawing a joint plan to strengthen bilateral relations especially in the economic field.

The French FM announced that the French Consulate in Wahran which was closed since 1994 will be opened next year. But he also stressed that " facilitating the move ( between the two countries) should be accompanied by intensive cooperation in the field of fighting illegal immigration." Regarding the western Sahara issue he said that " France considers that a political solution should be sought for the conflict of the western Sahara in the course of the UN. we also say that a direct dialogue between Algeria and Morocco is necessary."

Previous Stories:
  Chirac : Sahara Issue should be Settled part of Maghreb Integration   (4/16/2004)
  Meeting with Butaflika: Chirac: Unilateral change of Palestinian borders of grave, regrettable consequences   (4/16/2004)
  French President to visit Algeria   (4/14/2004)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search