APS : Sunday, 23 October 2016
ALGIERS-Secretary General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Hassane Rabehi and Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Fasilov Gayrat Ganievitch held bilateral political consultations in Tachkent (Uzbekistan) to discuss cooperation prospects between Algeria and Uzbekistan, the Foreign Affairs Ministry announced Sunday in a communiqué.
Both parties “broached means to implement bilateral cooperation,” and finalize and sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) “on cooperation and political consultations” between both countries’ Foreign Ministries, the same source stated.
This legal mechanism will allow hold regular political consultations between senior executives and employees of both countries’ Foreign Ministries and implement decisions taken during each consultation.
Moreover, said the source, both officials underscored “the importance giving a new impetus to parliamentary dialogue” between the two countries through setting up a Parliamentary friendship group and exchange of visits between both countries’ MPs.
In this regard, Rabehi suggested to the Uzbek official the signing as soon as possible of an agreement providing for the setting of a Joint Economic, Scientific, Technical and Culturel Cooperation Committee.
The Uzbek party welcomed this proposal and promised “to respond to this suggestion as soon as possible.”
Both parties highlighted the need for “strengthening the legal bilateral framework in the sectors of shared interests for both countries.”
Both officials identified various cooperation sectors like agriculture, energy, tourism, high education and culture to boost bilateral economic relations.
They also emphasized the importance of exchanging technical ministerial visits in these sectors.
Besides, the two parties stressed the importance of hoisting economic exchanges “to the level of tremendous complementary potentialities in several areas” and agreed in principle to set up a bilateral Business Council involving Chambers of Commerce and industry, as well as employers’ organizations.
Regarding the movement of persons, both officials highlighted the need for easing visa-granting procedures to both countries’ citizens in order to contribute to the achievement of cooperation goals set during these consultations.
They also examined the rapid signing of an agreement on the banning of visas for citizens holding diplomatic passports or services to facilitate meetings between representatives of both countries.
Rabehi and Gayrat Ganievitch discussed regional international issues of common interest, on which they welcomed convergence of views.
