Algérie Presse Service (APS) – November 22, 2011
Algeria and the Czech Republic signed an economic and industrial cooperation agreement, on the occasion of the official visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Mourad Medelci to the Czech Republic.
The agreement sets the priorities for the bilateral economic and industrial cooperation, said Mr. Medelci, speaking at a joint press conference held with his Czech counterpart, Mr. Karel Schwartzenberg.
“This is a concrete agreement because it includes a follow-up, support and coordination mechanism set in place through an Algerian-Czech joint commission,” explained Mr. Medelci, adding that delegations from the two countries would travel to Algiers and Prague early next year to implement the terms of the agreement.
The joint commission is scheduled to hold its first meeting within the first three months of 2012.
The head of Algerian diplomacy said that the two sides have agreed “to enrich and update” the legal framework governing the bilateral relations and indicated that an Algerian-Czech double taxation agreement “could be signed very soon” and another involving military cooperation “is practically finalized.”
Moreover, Mr. Medelci said that, in view of the new prospects in terms of bilateral cooperation, “Mr. Schartzenberg and I have decided to intensify our high-level visits.”
The foreign minister also held talks with Czech Prime minister Petr Necas, before heading to the Czech Senate, where he met with a senatorial delegation led by the Senate Deputy President Premysl Sobotka.
During the meeting, the two sides underlined “the significance of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening bilateral cooperation” through dialogue between the legislative bodies of the two countries.
The meeting with the Czech Senate delegation also provided an opportunity for the two sides to exchange views on “a number of issues of mutual interest relating to the Euro-Mediterranean area and the world.”
Mr. Medelci’s three-day visit in Prague, to be followed by an official three-day visit in Bucharest, Romania, at the invitation of his Czech and Romanian counterparts, is intended to strengthen relations of friendship and cooperation between Algeria and the two countries. Both visits also provide an opportunity to review bilateral relations and to exchange views on major current regional and international issues.
During his visit to Prague, Mr. Medelci also inaugurated the new consular section at the Embassy of Algeria in Prague.
At a ceremony held on that occasion, the foreign minister addressed a gathering of members of the Algerian community living in the Czech Republic. He emphasized the efforts deployed by the state to improve delivery of consular services to the benefit of the Algerian community living abroad and to foster contribution by the community to the socioeconomic development of Algeria.
The minister exchanged views with members of the local Algerian community, including issues relating to their living conditions as well as their contributions to the development efforts of Algeria.
