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Iranian President Highlights Ties with Algeria
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami on Wednesday highlighted the relations with Algeria, which he said server the interests of the two Islamic nations.
During a meeting with Speaker of the Algerian People's National Assembly (lower house) Abdul Qadir Bin Saleh, Khatami said that the Iranians consider themselves "very close" to the Algerian people, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported.
If the two sides adopt similar positions, it would be in the benefit of Islam, regional and world peace, Khatami stressed.
Last September, Iran and Algeria resumed the diplomatic relations, which were severed in 1993 after the North African nation accused Iran of supporting the Islamic Salvation Front, Algeria's major opposition force.
Describing the resumption of the ties as a "bold step" meeting the interests of both sides, Khatami said that "we should safeguard the ties and plan for the future."
He praised Algeria for making efforts in establishing and broadening Islamic civilization and called on Islamic states to put aside their differences and try to make progress through cooperation.
"We believe that the unity of Islamic states can perform miracles" and "attain a higher position in the technological, scientific, political, cultural and economic fields," Khatami stressed.
Saleh arrived here on Tuesday to deliver a message of brotherhood, friendship and appreciation to Khatami from Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, IRNA said.
Saleh briefed Khatami on Algeria's political and economic developments and lauded Iran's policies both at the domestic and international levels.
Algeria and Iran share views in their general political and economic programs and has had good relations of cooperation in the oil, gas, trade and security fields, he said.
Algeria is ready to expand the ties of cooperation with Iran in all fields, he added.
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