Algerian president to attend France National Day for the first time

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika arrived Saturday to Paris to attend the summit on the founding summit of the Union for the Mediterranean due to be held Sunday.

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• On Monday July 14, President Bouteflika will participate in the celebrations of National Day of France directly after the summit in the Champs-Élysées’ gardens, Le Nouvel Observateur newspaper reported.
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• French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced on July 7th that President bouteflika would attend the summit after Algeria had criticised the projected Union. The absence of an influential leader in the region would cause embarrassment for Sarkozy.