Talks between Russia and Algeria on opening direct flights between Moscow and Algiers

[Al-khiyal]

July 18, 2007 -- The Russian government has assigned the ministry of transport to hold talks with Algeria to sign an official convention for the opening of direct flights between Moscow and Algiers.

These new Russian endeavours come within cooperation agreements between the former Soviet Union and Algeria in many fields.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin paid a state visit to Algeria in March 2006. He held talks with his Algerian counterpart, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and signed a number of conventions related to the reinforcement of commercial, economic and financial relationships.

The talks also came up with an agreement on writing off Algeria's debts to Russia, which are estimated at $4.7 billion. In return for this, Algeria agreed to buy goods and services from Russia to a value equalling the amount of these debts.

The last meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Abdelaziz Bouteflika was organised within the framework of a working meeting for the G8 summit held at Heiligendamm, germany, few weeks ago.

A spokesman for the Russian President said that talks in that meeting focused on different aspects of the relationships between Russia and Algeria.

The decision of the Russian government to open direct flights between Algiers and Moscow comes within the commitment to concretise cooperation between Algeria and Russia.

This cooperation has been reflected, for instance, in the signature of conventions between the Russian energy company Gazprom and the Algerian petroleum company Sonatrach to develop comprehensive cooperation in oil and gas field.

In this regard, the Russian foreign affairs minister said that Algeria and Russia export the biggest part of their gas production to Europe and have a mutual interest to work together and coordinate their efforts in the international market.

Talks between Russia and Algeria on opening direct flights between Moscow and Algiers

[Al-khiyal]

Algeria and Russia sign air communication agreement

February 20, 2008 -- On February 19, 2008, Russia and Algeria signed an air communication agreement that implies increasing the number of flights between the capitals of the two countries, as the Minister of transport of Russia Igor Levitin reports.

He also mentioned that the previous similar document was signed in the 70's; that was 30 years ago. “We have specified our capabilities in view of the altered conditions, specified the number of air carriers, and also the ways of the airports' work” – Levitin said - “The Algerian side is ready to increase the number of flights between our capitals”.