Medvedev's visit to Algeria to rivet on Russian arms' sales, anti-terrorism fight in the Sahel and Western Sahara

Russian President, Dmitri Medvedev, is expected tomorrow in Algiers on a two-day official visit to Algeria at the invitation of President Abdellaziz Bouteflika. The Medvedev trip to Algeria will be in response to a similar visit paid to Moscow by the head of state Abdellaziz Bouteflika in 2008.

• A similar official visit paid to Algeria by former Russian President and current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin some years ago was marked by the signing of a major accord on Russian arms supplies to Algeria estimated at around 7 billion dollars.
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• Medvedev’s official visit here will be an opportunity to mend and promote Algerian – Russian relations in the aftermath of the lingering row between the two countries over the supply in 2008 of disused Russian Mig 29 jet fighters which were not to the liking of the Algerian side.
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• During his stay in Algiers, President Medvedev will be having several rounds of talks with President Bouteflika on ways of further bolstering Algerian – Russian cooperation in various fields of endeavour as well as on manifold international and regional issues of common concern including the unflagging struggle against the scourge of terrorism notably in the Sahel region and the latest developments in the Western Sahara file.
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• Pt Dmitry Medvedev will be accompanied during his upcoming visit by about 120 business leaders and economic operators who will be taking part in the proceedings of the Algerian – Russian business forum slated for later this week in Algiers.