Tehran Calls for Further Ties with Algeria

Zarif met on Sunday with Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Emigration of the National Popular Assembly of Algeria Abdelhamid Si Afif in Tehran.

According to the official website of Iranian Foreign Ministry, during the meeting, Zarif highlighted the friendly and brotherly relations between Tehran and Algiers, and said the ties have been based on long-term friendships and close cooperation among the two states.

“The Iranian nation and government show great respect to the revolution, people, and government of Algeria, and wish them success,” he noted.

Zarif hailed the level of Iran-Algeria political collaborations and reciprocal visits of the two states’ officials, and expressed hope that bilateral economic relations would further expand through the efforts of both sides.

The Iranian foreign minister praised the African country’s principled and logical policies, saying that Algeria adopts good stances towards various issues including Iran’s nuclear program and fight against extremism, among others. 

He also expressed Tehran’s preparedness to further expand its cooperation and bilateral relations with Algiers in different fields.

The Algerian lawmaker, for his part, welcomed Zarif’s statements, saying that his country attaches great importance to its friendly and brotherly relations with Iran, and is in turn ready for extensive cooperation with Iran.

He highlighted his country’s independent policies, and stressed that Algeria avoids interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.

Si Afif said Algeria is not influenced by third parties’ anti-Iran propaganda, and is willing to further enhance its relations with Tehran in various fields.

Earleir on Saturday, Si Afif said, in a meeting with Chairman of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, that his country is determined to further strengthen bilateral relations with Iran, specially in areas of trade and economy.

“Algeria is looking forward to expand economic cooperation with the Islamic Republic and it's also looking to cooperate in other fields in which both sides are highly capable,” Si Afif highlighted.

The Algerian parliamentarian highlighted “strong and friendly parliamentary relations” between the North African country and Iran.

“Algeria has hosted various delegations from Iran and many high-level talks have been held between the two countries,” said Si Afif.

For his part in the meeting, Falahatpisheh praised “good and friendly bilateral relations” between Iran and Algeria.

The Iranian lawmaker also expressed hope “some problems in the way of implementing previously-reached agreements, including in banking and trade sectors” would be resolved.

He said Iran's peaceful nuclear energy program and enhancing its defense capabilities by using its own knowledge has turned into a “challenge” for the US, Israel and their regional supporters.

In another meeting on Saturday, Si Afif told Iranian Vice-President for Parliamentary Affairs Hossein Ali Amiri that his country strongly supports the nuclear deal of 2015, and reassured that regional crises are aimed at weakening Islamic countries.

He said that his country is after further developing ties with Iran.

The Algerian legislator reiterated his country's support for the JCPOA and expressed the hope that “Iran would move past current difficulties and that good conditions would be prepared for the Iranian nation”.

Si Afifi called “artificial crises and efforts in the region” in line with the “Zionist regime's plans”, saying they are aiming to weaken Islamic countries.

Amiri, for his part in the meeting, said that the US unilateral walkout from the 2015 international treaty on its nuclear program will hurt the international community

“Flagrant violation of UN Security Council's binding resolution on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) by one the council's permanent members is unprecedented and should it continue, it will certainly harm all the international community,” the Iranian official added.

“Iran has been emphasizing on logical and positive relations with the world and we don’t accept illogical requests of some foreign powers,” said Amiri.

In a related front, earlier on Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said that Tehran and Algiers are enjoying great bilateral relations, highlighting that the two countries’ officials hold regular meetings to further promote ties.

Qassemi said that the Islamic Republic of Iran and Algeria have a positive and constructive relationship at all levels and fields, and so far have signed up to 70 cooperation documents.

“Iran and Algeria hold regular talks on bilateral, regional and international issues and the joint economic committee of the two countries is currently operating,” the Iranian diplomat said.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman recounted holding the Algerian week in Tehran, adding “moreover, there are regular meetings between the two foreign ministries’ officials within the framework of our relations and regular consultations”.

Qassemi underlined "given the history of relations and interests of the two nations, we can predict a bright future for relations between the two countries in all fields,” adding that the two countries currently have constructive relations with each other.

The spokesman went on to hail the Algerian revolution, saying “the revolution in Algeria has been an inspirational force not only in the region, but also in the history of the struggle against colonization in the 1950s and 1960s, and the people of Algeria, like the Iranian people, took part in a long struggle to gain their independence from France in 1962 with a million martyrs”.

In a related front, earlier on January 08, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Algeria Abdul Razzak Tarbash, in a ceremony to hail the formation of Iran-Algeria Parliamentary Friendship Group, said that relations between Algiers and Tehran are based on brotherhood and constructive cooperation.

The formation of Iran-Algeria Parliamentary Friendship Group in Algerian National People's Assembly was officially celebrated, in a special ceremony attended by Iran’s Ambassador Reza Ameri.

Tarbash attended the ceremony in the Algerian Parliament as a number of political figures and some heads of parliamentary fractions and members of parliament were present there as well.

Tarbash introduced the chairman and members of the parliamentary group of Algeria to the audience and announced that the relationship between Iran and Algeria is based on the spirit of brotherhood and constructive cooperation.

He further emphasized the need to consolidate and strengthen the relations, pointing to the good relations between the two countries' parliaments and the provision of a framework for joint activities, especially in the parliamentary arena.

Meanwhile, the Iranian Ambassador also pointed to the splendid position of the liberating revolution of the Algerian people among the Iranian people, and expressed satisfaction with the level of political relations and cooperation between the two countries, especially in the parliamentary, cultural and artistic areas.

He stressed that Iranian parliament is ready for cooperation with Algerian parliament to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy and exchange parliamentary delegations.

Ameri emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran considers no limit for cooperation with Algeria, and that existing relations between the two countries in all fields could expand.

Earlier on November 01, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in a message to his Algerian counterpart Abdelaziz Bouteflika, underlined the need for the further broadening of bilateral relations.

Rouhani cabled the message to felicitate Bouteflika on the country's Revolution Day.

President Rouhani also hoped that relations between Iran and Algeria would expand in every field, praying for the success of Algerian president and prosperity of its people.

Iran and Algeria have in recent years tried to further strengthen ties between the two countries in different arenas.

Iranian First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri in a message to Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmajid Tebboune last year underlined the need for the expansion of mutual cooperation between Tehran and Algiers in various fields.

Also, in September 2016, Jahangiri in a meeting with Algerian Energy Minister Noureddine Bouterfa in Tehran underlined the need for removing obstacles in the way of banking relations between the two countries.

"Settlement of the banking problems will play an effective role in developing the two countries' economic ties," Jahangiri said during the meeting.

He also stressed Tehran and Algiers' enthusiasm for boosting cooperation in the field of energy, but, meantime, said, "Iran and Algeria, as two oil-rich states, should decrease their dependence on oil revenues."

Elsewhere, Jahangiri stressed the need for Algeria to play a more active role in the regional issues, and said, "We expect Algeria to play a more influential and active role in the regional issues, specially the problems that certain regional states and the Muslim world are facing."

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