After a 34-year hiatus, Algeria’s foreign minister is on a visit to Bulgaria
23 March 2018 News
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva held a meeting today in Sofia with her counterpart from the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, Abdelkader Messahel. This is the first visit of an Algerian foreign minister in Bulgaria over the last 34 years.
During their talks, the two first diplomats were unanimous that all the missed opportunities for cooperation between Bulgaria and Algeria in the areas of economy, tourism, culture and education over the past years should be made up for; the ministers outlined concrete steps to utilise the neglected potential.
Revival of trade and economic relations with Algeria is a priority for Bulgaria. Our first diplomat stressed that the Bulgarian business community is capable of helping Algeria along the way to diversifying its economy.
According to Zaharieva, Bulgaria has a formidable capacity in spheres like power production, renewable energy sources, water resources, agriculture, the high-tech industries, etc., and it would like to share it with its Algerian partners.
"Apart from the expressed desire to intensify our political contacts, we will also work towards finding concrete forms of cooperation designed to stir up the interest of both the business communities and the ordinary citizens of our two countries," said Secretary Zaharieva at the joint press conference after the meeting.
Algerians know Bulgaria fairly well because of the outstanding contribution of the multiple thousand Bulgarian specialists from different economic fields who have worked in our country. Bulgaria is intimately linked with the Algerian national liberation movement as well. One of its heroic figures is the late Vassil Valchanov, a Bulgarian shipmaster.
This is what the Algerian first diplomat stated before his hosts. Secretary Messahel also argued that the names of film directors, artists and physicians are ranking among the Bulgarian nationals who have been well known and loved in his country.
What he also stressed during the meeting was the remarkable role of Bulgaria and its education system in the training of Algerian specialists in areas like engineering and medicine.
The two foreign ministers also discussed vital contemporary issues on the international political agenda. migration and the fight against terrorism were given a special focus among the global challenges.
Zaharieva highlighted Algeria's role and efforts in strengthening the security on the African continent. The Mediterranean countries are a key EU security partner, in particular on issues like border control and the combat against terrorism, radicalization and arms trafficking.
"Algeria's contribution to this mission is invaluable and you have not won the nickname of ‘Mr Africa’ for nothing. Within twenty years, Algeria has managed to contain terrorism on its own territory, which ranks it among the most secure countries at present.
Europe must listen to and consult countries like Algeria," Deputy Prime Minister Zaharieva added. She also pointed out that Bulgaria was one of the four European countries co-sponsoring the UN General Assembly's resolution adopted in November, which passed Algeria's proposal to create the “International Day of Living Together in Peace”.
"I am delighted that it will be precisely during the Bulgarian presidency, on May 16th, that the first international peace day will be celebrated," she added.
Zaharieva and Messahel signed three bilateral agreements today: on mutual visa exemption for short-term visitors holding diplomatic and service passports; a memorandum of understanding between the Diplomatic Institute under the Bulgarian foreign affairs minister and the Institute for Diplomacy and International Relations of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria; and a memorandum of understanding in the field of archives.
"With my Algerian colleague we discussed today how to update the existing legal framework between our countries. We agreed to draw up a roadmap with concrete goals and priorities in order to facilitate their practical implementation," Zaharieva said.
She also explained that this autumn will see political consultations among ministers and other competent incumbents towards putting together a concrete plan for the actions of bilateral cooperation.
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