Algerian president says Arab Maghreb Union should be built on European model

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said Monday in Italy that the Arab Maghreb Union should be built on the European model.

If we work like the Europeans did, earnestly and by getting rid of the Algerians' syndrome that it is exploited by the other member countries, then we would move towards more serious business, he told reporters in the northeastern Italian city of Rimini where he is attending the annual conference held by "the Meeting for Friendship Between Peoples."

Answering a reporter's comment that he ill-speaks about Morocco, he denied the accusation, stating that when there are positive aspects in relations with Morocco, he highlights them and when there are less positive things, he does the same.

He added that despite the Sahara issue which has significantly affected relations between Morocco and Algeria, a gas pipeline conveying Algerian gas to Europe via Morocco was constructed because it is an ambitious project that organically links the two states' economies.

He added that there is another gas pipeline to Italy crossing the Tunisian territory. None would dare to touch this type of project because this is very serious and edifying business for the peoples, he insisted.