Iran, Algeria restore full diplomatic ties

Iran and Algeria officially announced on Friday resumption of full diplomatic relations, state news agency IRNA reported Saturday.

"Stressing the reciprocal desire to elevate ties, Iran and Algeria have decided to establish full political ties at the ambassadorial level as of today (Sept. 8)," said a joint press statement released at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

The announcement was made following a meeting Friday between Iranian president Mohammad Khatami and Algerian peer Abdelaziz Bouteflika on the fringes of the U.N. Millennium summit.

It was the second time the two presidents met after their arrival in New York earlier in the week. The meeting was the highest political contact between the two states in seven years.

Relations between the countries were cut off in 1993 after Algiers accused Tehran of backing Islamic extremists fighting the Algerian government.

"The two presidents reviewed regional problems, especially those in the middle east and Maghreb. They also exchanged views on political developments in the Arab and Islamic world," the joint press statement said without elaboration.

It noted the high-level talks were held in a "very cordial and frank atmosphere."

In a dispatch from New York, IRNA quoted Bouteflika as saying in the meeting "we are ready to open a new chapter in bilateral ties on basis of the Islamic message."