Albares highlights Spain’s excellent relations with Algeria during visit

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, began his visit to Algiers on Thursday, where he met with President Tebboune and with his counterpart, Ahmed Attaf, with whom he highlighted the strong ties and excellent relations between Spain and Algeria.

During the first day, which focused on political and economic matters, a meeting also took place with the Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines, during which it was agreed to strengthen the Strategic Partnership in the field of energy by increasing the volume of gas supplied to Spain, boosting cooperation to reinforce energy infrastructure, and collaborating on other energy sources. The Minister stated that “Algeria is a reliable and consistent gas supplier with whom we have a long-standing tradition of supply that we wish to deepen and renew”.

Following his meeting with President Tebboune, Albares highlighted “the full validity of the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation between our two countries and the resumption of travel, visits and meetings at all levels”. During the meeting, he emphasised “the dynamism of the bilateral relationship in this new phase, a relationship that is being strengthened and deepened”. He also stated that “Algeria is a friend and a stable partner for Spain, a neighbour with whom we maintain constant dialogue and cooperation for the benefit of our peoples”. Furthermore, during his meetings, the minister addressed cooperation on migration issues.

The agenda in Algiers concluded with a meeting with Spanish business leaders, in a country where the potential for trade relations is significant – last year exports tripled and the volume of bilateral trade reached almost 8.5 billion euros. The presence of more than 100 Spanish companies with major investment projects in sectors such as hydrocarbons, food, ceramics and industry is further proof of this.

On the second day of the trip, today in Oran, the minister is presiding over the official opening of the Cervantes Institute. There, he will highlight the potential of the Spanish languag​​e and the importance of cultural relations between the two countries, “a space that strengthens that bridge between both shores of the Mediterranean and helps to continue fostering dialogue between Spain and Algeria, between our peoples and, in a very special way, with this city”.

The visit concludes with a tour of the Fort of Santa Cruz and a tribute, as part of a ceremony of historical and democratic remembrance, to the Republican exiles at the monument dedicated to the British merchant ship Standbrook in Oran.

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