Bouteflika says understanding is reached on all ambiguities with France

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said yesterday that a visit by French President Jacques Chirac to Algeria was scheduled, but he did not specify its date.

In press statements after a meeting with French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine that lasted for five hours, Bouteflika said: "I think we have come to a complete and total understanding on the fact that all ambiguities should be removed"

He added that he has called on French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin to visit Algeria, adding that he solved all problems of the visit's schedules.

Bouteflika, moreover, stressed the importance of resuming cultural cooperation between France and Algeria.

For his part, Vedrine announced during his press conference that he came to Algeria because the French president and his prime minister "consider that there exists a new situation characterized by the presence at the head of the Algerian state of President Bouteflika, also characterized by his declarations and his overtures."

He said, "There is a strong will in France to be here for this rendezvous of an extremely great importance and which seems to us able to prepare a true reorganization of the French-Algerian relations."