“The Islamic Republic of Iran is an unparalleled regional power which has always encouraged unity of the Islamic world,” Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki on Saturday.
President Bouteflika stated that Algeria’s principle stance on Iranian nuclear program would never change and that Algiers would always support Iran’s indisputable right to civilian use of the nuclear technology. Pointing to the status of Iran in the region and the Islamic world, he said “Iran’s weakness is not in our interest and those who support this policy by speaking of the Persians’ danger for the Arabs are treading a wrong path”.
“The contribution of the Persian Civilization to human Civilization is too much to be overlooked,” he added. Mottaki also emphasized Iran’s determination to expand its political and economic ties with Algeria.
“We are ready to avail ourselves of Algeria’s experience in gas and oil fields,” Mottaki said. He also suggested the establishment of a permanent political commission between the two countries to facilitate constant consultation on the regional issues.
Iran is main pillar of security in Mideast: Algeria
Algerian Foreign Minister Mohammed Bedjaoui said on Saturday that Iran is the cornerstone of peace and security in the Middle East. “Iran's wise and discreet policy is the most important pillar for establishing peace and security in the Middle East and this is because of the pivotal role of Iran in the region,” he told Iran’s foreign minister. He said the U.S. request to hold dialogue with Iran on how to calm Iraq indicated the failure of U.S. policies.
Algerian Foreign Minister Mohammed Bedjaoui said on Saturday that Iran is the cornerstone of peace and security in the Middle East. “Iran's wise and discreet policy is the most important pillar for establishing peace and security in the Middle East and this is because of the pivotal role of Iran in the region,” he told Iran’s foreign minister. He said the U.S. request to hold dialogue with Iran on how to calm Iraq indicated the failure of U.S. policies.
Bedjaoui blasted the policies of the current U.S. administration, saying no U.S. government has ever faced so many domestic and international problems as the Bush administration. He said Washington has been forced to appeal to its rivals to find a solution to the Iraq dilemma. All factors show that the U.S. is helpless and its policies have ended up in failure, the Algerian minister pointed out.
He added despite all efforts by Washington to isolate Iran, Tehran is in a very good position and the country owes this to its rational policies. Mottaki stated that Iran has been pushing for an Iraqi leadership and has expressed its opposition to the continued occupation of Iraq by foreign forces.
He said Iran has been backing the elected Baghdad government and has always stood on the side of Iraqi people. The Iranian minister also went on to say that “national consensus” is a key to resolving the Lebanese crisis. “The lack of political unity is blamed for the problems in Lebanon.”
Dissatisfactions over low trade ties
Bedjaoui lamented low trade transactions between Algeria and Iran. He said there is a “great potential” for economic ties in the two countries which is yet to be activated. Mottaki also said Tehran seeks expanded economic ties with Algeria which accommodate the developed political relationship between the two countries. Iran can cooperate extensively with Algeria in auto industry, irrigation, building dams and powers plants, as well as developing oil and gas projects, Mottaki suggested.
Bedjaoui lamented low trade transactions between Algeria and Iran. He said there is a “great potential” for economic ties in the two countries which is yet to be activated. Mottaki also said Tehran seeks expanded economic ties with Algeria which accommodate the developed political relationship between the two countries. Iran can cooperate extensively with Algeria in auto industry, irrigation, building dams and powers plants, as well as developing oil and gas projects, Mottaki suggested.
Algerian senior officials support Iran’s nuclear program
In separate interviews with the Mehr News Agency correspondent who was traveling with Iran’s foreign minister to Algiers both Algerian foreign minister and prime minister expressed their country’s support for Iran’s right to nuclear technology as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation (NPT).
“Algeria believes obtaining nuclear energy for civilian purposes is the legitimate right of all countries which have signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and it has always defended Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities as a member of the NPT,” the Algerian chief diplomat stated.
Similarly, Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem maintained that as a signatory to the NPT Tehran has an inalienable right to nuclear technology for civilian purposes. Every NPT member has a right to gain access to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and “we consider it Iran’s legitimate right,” Belkhadem stated.
Abdelaziz Belkhadem
Bouteflika
Mohammed Bedjaoui
Middle East
Algeria
Lebanon
Iraq
Iran
