ALGERIA: French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrives in Algiers to push energy and trade ties

Record ID: 573706

  • Title: ALGERIA: French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrives in Algiers to push energy and trade ties
  • Date: 10th July 2007
  • Summary: EXTERIOR OF VIP LOUNGE
  • Embargoed: 25th July 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Algeria
  • Country: Algeria
  • Topics: International Relations,Economic News
  • Reuters ID: LVABLY5FXD5R2584RRORYVXZ1979
  • Story Text: French President Nicolas Sarkozy, on his first visit outside Europe since his election to the presidency in May, visits Algeria and Tunisia to promote his plan for a Mediterranean Union, and boost energy ties.
    French President Nicolas Sarkozy flew to top Africa trade partner Algeria on Tuesday (July 10) on his first visit outside Europe since his May election seeking to promote his idea of a Mediterranean Union and boost energy ties.
    Sarkozy, welcomed by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, is also expected to seek to widen trade links in a strategic region on Europe's southern flank that has long been a French commercial preserve but is now also opening to Chinese and U.S. investors.
    "We've decided on an ambitious road map," Sarkozy told Algerian newspapers, referring to a slew of proposals on trade, investment, energy, and security with the gas-exporting nation.
    He was ready to go "further" to build military cooperation and was "very open" to more arms sales to Algeria.
    Sarkozy will have a working lunch with Bouteflika and then go straight to Tunis for supper with Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. He returns to France on Wednesday morning.
    Algeria is a former French colony while Tunisia, like France's closest Maghreb ally Morocco, was once a protectorate.
    Sarkozy had been due to go on to Morocco but Rabat postponed it due to scheduling problems. The Moroccan move surprised many in the region, and diplomats said the real reason was Rabat was annoyed Sarkozy was starting his tour in regional rival Algeria.
    There has been no official comment from Rabat.
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