Kouchner in Algiers to save the Union for the Mediterranean summit
El Khabar, 1 june 2008
France’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Bernard Kouchner is to pay a second visit to Algiers next Wednesday and Thursday, to attend the Euro-Mediterranean Forum, diplomatic sources told El Khabar.
Kouchner is to attend the meeting of foreign ministers of member countries in the Euro-Mediterranean Forum to be hosted by Algeria next Wednesday and Thursday.
The meeting agenda is to focus on discussing the Union for the Mediterranean project.
France is making sure attending the meeting with its Foreign Affairs Minister, targeting “saving” 13 July summit in France, which is intended establishing the Union for the Mediterranean, mostly after some southern Mediterranean countries, including Algeria have shown their reserves on Sarkozy’s project.
To recall, Algeria’s Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci told the Algerian Radio last Wednesday that Arab reservations were reflected by a number of countries at a meeting of Arab foreign ministers last week in Cairo.
However, the visit of Kouchner to Algiers will target also pursuing negotiations with Algerian Authorities on the Union for the Mediterranean project, amid rumors that President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will not attend the 13 July summit.
On another side, the same sources further disclosed that the French Trade Minister, Herve Novelli is also to visit Algeria soon, to be followed by another visit of the Delegate Minister in charge of Housing and Urban Affairs, Fadela Amara, of Algerian origins.
01-06-2008
By K. Zait/ Translation A. Ait El Hara
