ALGERIA: Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Algeria for talks on political and commercial ties between the two countries

Record ID: 574261

  • Title: ALGERIA: Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Algeria for talks on political and commercial ties between the two countries
  • Date: 11th March 2006
  • Summary: PUTIN EXITING AIRCRAFT AND WALKING DOWN STEPS
  • Embargoed: 26th March 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Algeria
  • Country: Algeria
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAETF6P6C5SVZASQH3TR0FF3QDX
  • Story Text: Russian President Vladimir Putin flew to Algeria on Friday (March 10), his first official visit to North Africa as he drums up support across the Muslim world for a renewed diplomatic offensive in the Middle East.
    Putin was also expected to discuss trade and military equipment deals with the former Soviet ally, which is drawing growing interest from foreign investors as it looks to renew vital infrastructure after a decade-long civil war.
    Putin, who was met by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika at the airport on Friday afternoon, is keen to restore Russia's role as a global diplomatic heavyweight and boost its standing in the Arab world.
    His invitation to Hamas for talks last month and an offer to enrich Iran's uranium to help defuse a diplomatic crisis have won him praise in Arab countries.
    "In addition to bilateral relations, the two leaders will raise international problems, notably the Iran issue and the situation in the Middle East," Algerian state radio said.
    Alexei Arbatov, a Middle East expert at Moscow's Institute of World Economy and International Affairs, said Russia wants to become a middleman between the West and the Islamic world.
    Putin had been expected to arrive on Thursday for two days of talks during which the two leaders would discuss the possibility of the Kremlin converting Algeria's $5 billion Soviet-era debt into investments and helping the energy-exporting country renew its fleet of jet fighters.
    Russian newspaper Kommersant said a last-minute disagreement over detail meant the visit was cut from two days to six hours.
    The paper said on Thursday that Moscow had agreed to the write-off if Algeria made major arms purchases and gave Russian companies access to its oil and gas fields.
    But Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, visiting Algiers this week to prepare Putin's trip, was unable to get a written guarantee that Algeria would buy additional arms at a meeting earlier this month, the paper said.
    The two countries have been discussing a possible purchase by Algeria of Russian MIG-29 combat jets for up to 1.5 billion U.S. dollars (USD), according to media reports.
    Algiers and Moscow have been on good terms since the Cold War and their ties have warmed further since a strategic partnership was signed in 2001.
    Some 10 contracts covering air and maritime transport and investment will be signed during Putin's visit, officials said.
    The two gas suppliers are also likely to sign an energy deal involving Algerian state oil and gas company Sonatrach and Russia's Gazprom and Lukoil they added.
    Algeria saw its foreign exchange reserves rise to 56 billion USD at the end of November and plans to spend up to 80 billion USD by 2009 to boost growth and modernise infrastructure.
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