APS : Wednesday, 08 March 2017
ALGIERS- Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Alfonso Maria Dastis Quecedo on Wednesday has hailed Algeria’s role in North Africa and in the Mediterranean region.
“Spain and Algeria are neighbouring countries and strategic partners. Spain attaches great importance to Algeria’s role as a pole of stability in North Africa and in the Mediterranean,” said Dastis in an interview with APS on the occasion of his working visit to Algeria.
The Spanish Foreign minister recalled that the two countries, bound by a Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation since 2012, have agreed to “deepen and diversify” their relations with “concrete results.”
“Indeed, Spain is the European partner which has held the largest number of summits with Algeria,” he said, adding that cooperation between the administrations of the two countries “is rich and fruitful” in various areas.
“Algeria is a constant and reliable partner for Spain in the field of energy. Spanish companies seek to contribute to Algeria’s development and to the diversification of its economy,” he said.
In this regard, Dastis underlined the political dialogue between the two countries, adding that “it has developed to become strategic dialogue.”
“Spain has always appreciated Algeria’s key role as player for stability in Africa and the Mediterranean. I have noticed with satisfaction that other partners have joined us in this recognition,” said Dastis.
“As a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2015-2016, we have had the privilege to closely work with Algeria,” said the Spanish Foreign minister.
In this respect, he hailed the “influence” of Algeria within the African Union, where “it has held key positions for a long time.”
“In the Sahel, I would like to underline Algeria’s key role as the leading mediator in Mali, and which has made it possible today the installation of interim authorities in the northern regions of this country,” said Dastis.
The Spanish official also stressed the utmost importance attached by the two countries to the 5+5 dialogue initiative in the Western Mediterranean.
“Algeria and Spain has jointly developed a pioneer initiative on water resources,” he added.
The two-day working visit of the Spanish Foreign minister comes at the invitation of Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ramtane Lamamra.
The visit is part of “the regular political consultations” between Algeria and Spain.
During the two-day visit, the two sides will hold discussions to deepen their political dialogue on issues of common interest and will examine cooperation ahead of the 7th Algerian-Spanish High Level Meeting, to take place in Algiers in the course of 2017.
