French Senate chairman visits Algeria

The chairman of the French Senate, Christian Poncelet, said yesterday that his current visit to Algeria "aims at resetting the relations between Algeria and France," Algerian News Agency reported.

The report quoted Poncelet as expressing hopes that "the Algerian and French people [will] strengthen their cooperation in all fields, not only in the sector of hydrocarbons, but in those of culture, agriculture and great equipment as well."

He said Algerian - French relations had "moments stronger than others," adding that, "I believe that there is a lot to do, especially at the moment when, under the impulse of the President of the Algerian Republic, Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, a period, we hope of security and civil peace, has enabled Algeria to open up and regain its place in the concert of great nations."

He also said his visit comes "to bring, in the best of our capacities, our support to Algeria's economic and social development, a country with which we have special bonds," the report said.