Algeria and France launch huge nuclear and military cooperation projects

Algeria and France signed two cooperation accords in military and defence and peaceful use of nuclear energy fields on Saturday.

• Algerian Prime Minister and his French counterpart presided over the signature of the accords on a two-day official visit of French PM Francois Fillon.
• This accord concretises a cooperation programme announced by French President Nicolas Sarkozy on his visit to Algeria in 2007. It provides for training programmes and common researches in peaceful use of nuclear energy in addition to circulated information on projected nuclear plants in Algeria by French nuclear plant builder Areva.
• Algeria was the first Arab country which gained approbation from France to launch a cooperation project in this feld before other Arab countries including United Arab Emirates, Libya, Tunisia and Jordan.
• Algerian and French Prime Ministers presided over a second accord on a huge military cooperation programme Fillon described as historic.
• The accord will encourage future important projects in military cooperation including partnership programmes in military industry and military training, according to the French premier accompanied by ministers and a delegation of French businessmen.
• A memorandum of understanding on financial cooperation to simplify legal procedures for French businesses was also signed.
• Abdelaziz Belkhadem stressed the necessity of increasing French investments in Algeria and facilitating people’s movements between the two countries.
• “We can not imagine economic, cultural, university relations and others without taking into account human exchanges,” he told journalists.
• “France is the first trade partner for Algeria. It is our fifth client and first resource,” he added.
• According to him, exchanges between Algeria and France reached $9 billion in 2007.