ALGIERS- Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal has received, Wednesday in Algiers, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Alfonso Maria Dastis Quecedo, who is on a working visit to Algeria, said the Prime Minister Office in a statement.
The two sides examined cooperation between the two countries and underlined the need to further strengthen it, said the statement.
They also expressed satisfaction at the prospects for the development of cooperation in various socioeconomic sectors, added the statement.
In this respect, the two officials expressed willingness to step up efforts to fulfil, as soon as possible, all the commitments made from both sides.
The Premier and the Spanish Foreign minister exchanged views on international and regional issues of common interest, said the statement.
As regards the situation in the sub-region, they underlined the “need to continue to favour solutions that are in accordance with the principles of international legality, through dialogue,” added the statement.
The audience was attended by Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ramtane Lamamra.
Algeria, Spain, allies and strategic partners
“Algeria and Spain are allies and strategic partners, both in political and economic terms. I seek to strengthen these relations and build steady working and friendship relations,” Alfonso Dastis Quecedo told the press upon his arrival at Houari-Boumediene International Airport.
Spanish FM hails Algeria’s role in North Africa, 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.
