Iranian expert: western countries impede Algeria’s development

The Iranian expert Amir moussaoui expressed his astonishment to the “slowness of the Iranian- Algerian bilateral ties” and has declared to “Echorouk” from Teheran that cooperation between both countries remains weak economically and militarily, though strong politically.

• He staunchly believes that his country can provide Algeria with the required technology in various sectors of activities including housing, aviation, roads, hydraulic, energy and even in the transfer of technologies in the atomic field. The former diplomat went on saying that western countries, more specifically European ones, are not keen in supporting Algeria technologically imposing a disguised embargo.
• M Moussaoui added that his country is expecting a move from Algeria to forge ahead this cooperation mentioning that the Iranian president Mohammed Ahmadi Nadjed has suggested, during his last visit to Algeria and also during M Bouteflika’s visit to Teheran, to transfer the Iranian technological know how to Algeria.
• The expert referred to the American –Iranian question, a matter of debate in his county these last days, saying that his country put forward a bunch of conditions to be agreed upon. These points can be wrapped up in: the obligation for America to acknowledge Islamic Republic regime, to unfreeze the Iranian funds abroad, to raise the economic blockade on the country, to settle the issue of the Iranian flight struck by the US aircraft carrier in the Gulf and stop financing the Iranian opposition.
• Should be these conditions fulfilled, the Iranian expert said, his country can allow the US troops to cross the Iranian ground while leaving Iraq, but he remains suspicious out of experience, especially that Obama’s staff will delay dialogue after the Iranian elections hopping the return of the former moderate leader Mohammed Khatami to power.
• To the question whether Iran was ready to make concessions concerning its right to pursue its atomic program in order to establish diplomatic relations with Washington, M Moussaoui excluded this option saying that Obama’s administration has to agree upon two major conditions before starting dialogue with Teheran. These two points are: to acknowledge the Iranian right to posses the atomic energy and allow it to spread its influence on the area, not to isolate it.
• M Moussaoui put the focus on the US pragmatism saying that if their benefit lies in opening dialogue with the Palestinian and Lebanese resistance, they will do it, because the new administration learnt from the Bush’s experience and is rather keen to deal with opposing countries like Syria and Iran.