Algeria second importer of Russian weapons

Mikhail Margelov, Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs and Special Envoy of the Russian President asserted on cooperating with African Countries, adding that the Presidential Elections in Algeria indicate the stability of the political system.

Russian press reports praised on Monday the circumstances in which the Presidential Election were conducted last Thursday, saying that they indicate the democracy and transparency; “Bouteflika has a big role in maintaining the Algerian Russian relationships and developing them, especially in the economic field and exactly in the military field”.

NOVOSTI agency quoted on Monday media reports as saying that Algeria currently ranks second among the Russian military products importers, pointing out that in 2013 Algeria bought Russian weapons and military equipment worth $1.9 billion. 

Algeria has signed deals in 2005 for importing weapons worth a total value of about six billion dollars.

Russian media reports think that Algeria will sign new and similar deals with Russia in the future, but the newspaper “Kommersant” quoted the Russian Alexander Fomin, head of the military-technical cooperation between Russia and the other states as saying that he could not confirm the information relating to new transactions with Algeria.

In this context, Alexander Fomin, the administrator of the Federal Military-Technical Cooperation added that, according to international reports, Algeria ranks third among importers of weapons and military equipment from Russia, as reports suggest that its imports of the Russian arms in the last year exceeded 91%.

For his part, Mikhail Margelov, Chairman of the International Affairs Committee in the Russian Federation Council and Special Envoy of the Russian President for Cooperation with African Countries, said the Presidential Elections in Algeria indicate the stability of the political system there.

“Victory of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in these elections guarantees the continuation of mutual beneficial relationships between Algeria and Russia. Presidential Election in Algeria confirmed the stability of the political system in this country, the flexible policy of the current president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika contributes significantly to the installation of this stability.”

“Algeria was largely able to avoid the consequences of the Arab Spring, which destabilized some of the neighboring countries of Algeria and in the area that is located in the south of Sahara and the Middle East as well.”