Bouteflika not satisfied with bilateral cooperation with Russia

Putin calls for treating Russian companies as same as European ones

Bouteflika not satisfied with bilateral cooperation with Russia

El Khabar, 20 février 2008

President Bouteflika said he is not satisfied with bilateral economic cooperation with Russia in 2007, saying it is less important than the level reached in 2006, while Russian President Vladimir Putin has called Bouteflika for treating Russian companies investing in Algeria as same as European ones. During the second and last day of his state visit to Russia, Mr. Bouteflika said the two parties should work together as to remove hinders blocking the promotion of trade and economy cooperation. Russian Press Agency RIA Novosti quoted Bouteflika saying he is not fully satisfied with the development of current bilateral economic relationship, adding: “we have to understand why our performance was better in 2006 than in 2007…it is probable, that both parties are responsible. » President Putin expressed his hope that closer Algerian ties with the EU wouldn’t affect conditions for Russian companies. He said he hoped the free trade zone between Algeria and the European Union, scheduled for 2012 would not put Russian companies at a disadvantage on the Algerian market, while President Bouteflika said the drop of bilateral relationships is not due to the EU Treaty. President Putin further called his Algerian counterpart for boosting bilateral energy cooperation, saying both Russia and Algeria are two of the biggest natural gas exporters. President Bouteflika said at the end of his visit that a Russian state owned railway company has clinched a tender for constructing new railway lines in Algeria, while a Russian diplomatic source in Algeria told El Khabar that the project is estimated at 1 b USD.

 

20-02-2008 By H.Y/ Translation A.A