Syria - Algeria business ties

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Lattakia, Syrian coast, (SANA)-An Algerian agriculture delegation headed by Director of the Agrarian Services in Tiaret city Moisey Abdul-Kader paid a visit to Lattakia Agriculture Directorate.

The delegation referred to the importance of benefiting from the Syrian and Algerian experience regarding the protection of forests and adoption of joint agrarian work plans in the agriculture field.

For his part, Director of Lattakia Agriculture Directorate Hassan Baddour talked about the important role of agrarian sector in Syria and the most important crops in the Syria coast.

Syria and Algeria to boost cooperation on agriculture

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DAMASCUS, December 17, 2007 (SANA) -- Minister of Industry Fuad Issa al-Jouni and Algerian Minister of Establishments and Small & Middle Industries, Mustafa Bin Bada discussed yesterday ways to strengthen joint cooperation in the sectors of textile, medicine, specifications and standards in addition to the establishment of partnerships between the two countries in these areas with the exchange of experiences and expertise.

The two Ministers stressed the importance of the resumption of work of the Syrian-Algerian Joint Committee as soon as possible.

Bin Bada clarified that the number of Syrian projects in Algeria exceeds 63 projects and that this is the highest figure for companies among Arab countries.

The meeting was attended by the Algerian ambassador in Damascus and the delegation accompanying the Minister Ben Bada.

Syria and Algeria to enhance industrial cooperation

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Syria, Algeria call for economic integration between them

DAMASCUS, October 16, 2008 (SANA)-Minister of Economy and Trade Dr. Amer Hosni Lutfi stressed the importance of enhancing trade, economic and investment cooperation between Syria and Algeria to promotes rates of trade exchange, establishes joint investments, enhances cooperation between businessmen in the two countries and exchange of expertise.

During his meeting with Algerian Minister of Trade El-Hachemi Djaaboub Wednesday night, Dr. Lutfi said the meeting "constitutes an opportunity to exchange views on boosting economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two brotherly countries", adding that it was also "a good opportunity to discuss mechanisms of increasing the volume of trade exchange and tackling the obstacles that face the work progress".

For his part, El-Hachemi Djaaboub expressed confidence in opening new promising prospects of cooperation between the two countries in the economic and trade domains, hailing the fruitful cooperation between the Ministries of Trade in the two countries.

The two Ministers called for achieving true economic integration between the two countries and exchanging expertise in a way that contributes in bolstering the construction and development process between them.

They also appreciated the importance of holding the meetings of the Syrian-Algerian Higher Committee in Damascus in enhancing the cooperation process between the two countries in various domains.

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Interview with Moroccan Amazigh Democratic Party chief Ahmed Dgherni

October 16, 2008 -- On October 31st, the Fifth Amazigh World Congress will convene in Meknes, Morocco. Following some difficult deliberations over the location of the event, member groups of the Federation of Amazigh Associations chose the historic city for the three-day event that will emphasise unity among Amazigh people from across the region. Ahmed Dgherni, Secretary-General of Morocco's Amazigh Democratic Party (PDAM) spoke with Magharebia recently about the Congress and the state of Amazigh affairs in his country.

Magharebia: What is the agenda of the Congress this year?

Dgherni: Our long-standing agenda is to gather the biggest Amazigh organisations this year. What is new this time is the fact that Algerians at home have paid greater attention, as opposed to before when more Algerian exiles did.

Magharebia: The Amazigh World Congress is accused of lacking a clear action plan, regulatory incapacity and inefficiency.

Dgherni: The Congress is made up of volunteer associations that are not getting any support and which are placed under a media siege and face communication and freedom of movement obstacles. This situation is aggravated by the closed borders between Morocco and Algeria and the Sahara Conflict. The Congress should not be blamed for everything.

Magharebia: What did you tackle in your meetings with some of the Algerian parties?

Dgherni: During those meetings we dealt with Moroccan-Algerian relations in general. Our main concern, though, was opening the border between the two countries. The national movement parties have inherited conflicts with Algeria that operate against the interest of the new generations in both countries. We are determined to overcome those conflicts to create political relations between both nations through the new parties.

Magharebia: Why did you ask the European Union to reconsider Morocco’s movement toward advanced status?

Dgherni: Morocco is living in an atmosphere of suppression. The most obvious evidence is the incidents taking place this year in Sidi Ifni and elsewhere, with students being arrested. Therefore, we approached the European countries because they are part of the good neighbour agreement and the partnership signed with Morocco.

Magharebia: Wouldn’t that be regarded as hindering the flourishing of economy in Morocco?

Dgherni: What we are basically concerned with is Chapter 2 of the agreement which stipulates that Morocco must respect human rights. Doesn’t violating human rights hinder the flourishing of the economy?

Magharebia: How do you assess the conditions of the Amazighs in the Arab Maghreb states?

Dgherni: First of all, I am against the term "Arab Maghreb states", because they are not Arab. Maghreb states are for all residents of the Maghreb. The condition of Amazigh culture in the region is in constant progress, since there is communication among nations and because the Amazigh culture has become a common factor in the entire region. Amazigh culture will enjoy a prosperous future if the Amazighs in the region unite.

Magharebia: What are the grounds of your long-standing clash with the Istiqlal party?

Dgherni: The [Istiqlal] party imposed the policy of Arabisation when it was the dominant party and it still holds on to Arabisation, which is the essence of our disagreement.

Magharebia: Do you accuse Minister of Communication Khalid Naciri of being behind the delay in launching the Amazigh channel?

Dgherni: Since he is a minister in charge of the communication sector, he has to take responsibility. I consider the minister the main obstacle delaying the launch of the channel because he is not serious about the project.

Magharebia: As an Amazigh movement in Morocco, what are your demands?

Dgherni: We are asking for constitutional reforms, such as recognizing the Amazighs and separating authorities. We disagree with the authority, which imposes the power of scholars on society. Further, the state does not respect human rights. We are also asking for environmental reforms such as preserving forests and refraining from confiscating lands from some demographic groups. We are also asking for the protection of the mineral wealth that is being plundered as well as the marine wealth. Our demands are too many to list here.

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Syria and Algeria sign 11 agreements, protocols and executive programs for cooperation

DAMASCUS, October 16, 2008 (SANA)_ Syria and Algeria on Thursday , at the end of deliberations of the Syrian-Algerian Higher Committee, inked 11 conventions, protocols and executive programs for cooperation in the various areas.

Prime Minister Mohamed Naji Ottri and his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Ouyahia signed a convention of establishment of the Higher Committee in addition to the minutes of the Syrian-Algerian Higher Committee meetings in its first session.

The conventions, protocols and executive programs of cooperation include cooperation in the fields of Agriculture, trade, exports, health, social affairs, higher education and scientific research, cultural cooperation, international road transport of passengers and goods, the consular area and the establishment of the businessmen council as well as program of the joint work until the end of the year.

Later, Ottri and Ouyahia held a press conference during which they expressed content over the positive outcome of the higher committee meetings.

They stressed Syria and Algeria's keenness for the Syrian-Algerian cooperation to be an example for cooperation relations among Arab countries and for the economic cooperation to upgrade to the level of the distinguished standing political relations between the two sides.

Ottri underlined the necessity of integration between economics of the two countries.

For his part, Ouyahia hailed Syria's national and pan-Arab positions and Syrian people' standing by Algerian resistance throughout history.

Then, Ottri and Ouyahia replied questions of journalists, which focused on ways to support march of cooperation and follow-up implementation of the conventions through formation of a committee for periodic and permanent follow-up.

The minutes of meetings of the Syrian-Algerian Higher Committee included cooperation in economic, investment and trade and what was agreed upon on the level of cooperation between the economic institutions of the two countries through exhibitions, international markets, the promotion of national products and exchange of expertise in the area of export development and establishment of small and medium enterprises and activating role of the Syrian and Algerian businessmen.

It also included cooperation in the fields of finance, customs, banking, industry, standardization, transportation in its various forms, agriculture sector, communications, information technology, irrigation, tourism, oil and mineral resources, energy, environment, housing and construction, information, health, sports, youth, higher education, social affairs, employment and other areas of cooperation.

The Syrian and Algerian sides confirmed their faith in the Arab solidarity to preserve the Arab national security and ensure respect of safety of each Arab country and its right to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in its internal affairs.

They underlined the need to overcome the inter-Arab differences through the deep and serious dialogue, implementing the twenty Arab summit decisions which was held in Damascus, supporting the steps taken to develop system of the Arab action and enhancing role of the Arab League to achieve objectives of the Arab nation.

The two sides also stressed importance of continuing all forms of the political, material and moral support to the Palestinian people and their legitimate resistance against the Israeli occupation and their right to self-determination and establish their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

They condemned all forms of terrorism, stressing their intention to continue to combat terrorism to eradicate and eliminate it. Syria and Algeria also condemned the suspicious fabrications to link between terrorism and the Arabs and Muslims and renewed the call for the convening of an international conference under UN supervision to define terrorism, its reasons and motives and to differentiate it from the right of peoples to resist foreign occupation.

Later, Ouyahia left Damascus Thursday afternoon wrapping up a two-day official visit to Syria during which he presided over the Algerian side to the Syrian-Algerian Higher Committee meetings in its first session.

At Damascus International Airport He was seen off by Premier Ottri, a number of ministers, senior officials, the Syrian and Algerian ambassadors and Algerian embassy staff in Damascus.

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Syria, Algeria to exchange experiences in roads and bridges construction field

Damascus, July 23, 2009 (SANA) -- Transport Minister, Yarub Badr, reviewed on Thursday with a delegation of Ministry of Public Works in Algeria headed by Hosain Naseeb, means of cooperation, exchange of experiences and studies in the field of roads and bridges construction. The Minister pointed to some of recently implemented road projects in Syria, the highways projects, the preparation of the initial studies and the economic feasibility in cooperation with the French centers specialized in studying the effects of traffic, economic activities and population growth on these projects. Naseeb stressed the necessity of revitalization of the activity of the Joint Syrian-Algerian Higher Committee and holding a sharing agreement between Algerian companies and the Public Company of Roads and Bridges in Syria to take advantages of its experiences in carrying out projects in Algeria.