Algerian- French talks

French- Algerian talks chaired by the Algerian minister of state for foreign affairs Abdul Aziz Balkhadem and the French foreign minister Hubert Vedrine started on Tuesday in Algiers in a close door meeting to which later joined members of the two delegations.

During the meeting, the Algerian minister said the visit of the French minister to Algeria falls in the course of backing Algerian- French relations. A matter which was manifested during the visit made by Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika to France in June of 2000.

The french minister arrived in Algiers earlier in the day at the invitation of his Algerian counterpart.

The French foreign minister Hubert Vedrine has asserted that his current visit to Algerian aims at strengthening and developing the very important key relations existed between Algeria and France.

In an arrival statement to pressmen in Algiers in a work visit which lasted for one day Vedrine said he will review with the Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika and with his Algerian counterpart Abdul Aziz Balkhadem bilateral relations and other issues of concern to the two sides.

Vedrine last visit to Algeria was in July 1999.