Russia, Algeria Sign Declaration on Strategic PartnershipRussian President Vladimir Putin and his visiting Algerian counterpart Abdelaziz Bouteflika signed a declaration on strategic partnership between their countries in Moscow on Wednesday.According to the declaration, the sides decided to establish strategic partnership based on mutual understanding and respect for each other "in order to bring the bilateral relations to an even higher, qualitatively new level." The document proclaims that the two countries will strengthen cooperation in defense, particularly in expanding a long-term arms trade and exchanges between their armed forces. The two leaders also discussed pressing international and regional issues, pledged to enhance their cooperation in science and technology, in combating international terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking and illegal arms trade. Putin urged Algeria to absorb more Russian enterprises in its major construction projects, and he also called for more UN dominant roles in solving regional problems. Bouteflika, in his turn, said Algeria stands for the establishment of a multi-polar world, urging Russia to make more efforts for a settlement of the Middle East conflict. Bouteflika, who arrived here Tuesday for a three-day official visit, will also meet Russian Premier Mikhail Kasyanov and speakers of the Russian parliament on bilateral ties and rescheduling Algiers' debts to Moscow. |
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