Algerian - Egyptian talks focus on furthering economic, trade relations
Egypt's Foreign Minister Amr Moussa arrived Friday on a two-day official visit to Algeria.
Moussa held talks with his Algerian counterpart Abdel Aziz Belkhadem on bilateral relations, the latest developments in the Middle East, the situation in the Palestinian territories and the Arab summit, to be hosted by Jordan late in March.
The two ministers co-chair the meetings of the fourth session of the Algerian-Egyptian joint committee, slated for Saturday.
The preparatory panel concluded on Thursday preparations of the agenda and the six cooperation agreements to be signed by the two sides with the aim of buttressing economic and trade relations.
President Abdel Aziz Bouteflika is expected to receive, on Saturday, Moussa who will convey to him a message from President Hosni Mubarak.
In press statements upon arrival, Moussa underlined that his nomination as Secretary General for the Arab League came after two-day consultations between President Hosni Mubarak and Arab leaders.
"Meetings of the Egyptian-Algerian joint committee, to start Saturday, will help promote bilateral relations," said Moussa. He underlined the importance of boosting trade and economic ties, referring to a visit made by a 60-strong Egyptian business delegation.
Moussa described the establishment of the Algerian businessmen council as a good move, stressing the support of the Egyptian and Algerian governments for it.
Egyptian-Algerian talks focused on means of furthering economic and trade relations.
Talks would dwelt on the situation in the Middle East and the latest developments on the Palestinian track, in the light of the Arab summit, to be held in Amman by the end of -March.
Egyptian and Algerian delegations are also expected to pore over Euro-Mediterranean relations and issues of mutual interest.
On his part, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Abdel Aziz Belkhadem welcomed Egypt's accession to the Arab Maghareb Union (AMU) and hoped that the ministerial meeting of the AMU, to be hosted by Algeria in March, would be crowned with success.
Moussa, Belkhadem and Algerian Minister of Participation and Coordination of Reforms Hamid Tammar attended the signing ceremonies of two Egyptian-Algerian agreements.
The first agreement stipulates the establishment of the Egyptian-Algerian businessmen Council, and the second between the Egyptian Chambers of Commerce Union and its Algerian counterpart.
Egyptian chief of the Union Khaled Abu Ismail signed the agreement the Egyptian side, while Deputy Chairman of the Algerian Chamber of Commerce Ahmad Ben Omar represented his country.
Moussa and Belkhadem gave speeches in which they underlined the importance of the event, describing the agreements as a step forward for the good of both countries.
Moussa urged Egyptian businessmen to give greater attention to organizing Egyptian product fairs abroad, especially in Arab, African and Islamic countries.
Egyptian businessmen, on their part, praised keenness of their Algerian counterparts on promoting cooperation and establishing joint ventures in the fields of irrigation, health, chemicals, tourism and others.
They demanded to give preferential treatment to Algerian products and vice versa.