UAE, Algeria to boost bilateral relations

Both countries stressed the need for support from parliaments for any bilateral agreement that serves mutual economic interests to reach the progress attained in the political domain.

Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Speaker of the UAE Federal National Council (FNC), and Abdelaziz Ziari, Speaker of Algerian National People’s Assembly, announced the creation of Emirati-Algerian Parliament Group of Brotherhood and Friendship on Wednesday during a visit by the former to Algeria.

The talks, which was attended by Khaleej Times, had come out with a mechanism for coordination between the two Houses for advancing bilateral ties to become a model of complete understanding and accord and common stances towards Arab, Islamic and international issues for the betterment of the mutual political interests.

The two sides also stressed the need for improving performance of the Arab Inter-parliamentary Union (AIPU) to live up with the Arab ambitions and sort out negatives like inapplicable recommendations.

Al Ghurair said there is a need for a new mechanism to reduce the four-day meetings to two days.

He also called for developing the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) to become more active in handling Islamic issues.

Ziari said Algeria supported all proposals floated by the UAE during the talks and called for government officials and investors to jointly conduct training workshops on investment to ensure smooth implementation of projects.

“Algeria is opening its doors wide for the UAE investors and offering all assistance and facilities to render their ventures success and this was underlined by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in his talks with Al Ghurair,” he said.

“Algeria values the UAE support for the Palestinian cause and Palestinian rights to establish their independent state and return of all occupied Arab territories,” he added.

“We, in Algeria, condemn the American and European pressure on the Palestinians to force them engage into negotiations not serving their interest and whose outcome will only strengthen Israel and spur it to pursue its aggression, and arrogant policies,” he said.

He called the Arabs to adopt a common stance to condemn this farce and bolster Palestinian resistance.

adel@khaleejtimes.com