Merkel's Algeria Visit Postponed Because Of Bouteflika Illness

Algeria Presidency, said on Monday, that it was decided to postpone the visit of the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, to Algeria, to a later date.

APS quoted a statement from the Presidency, as saying; “This postponement is due to the temporary impossibility for the President of the Republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who is currently in Algiers state residence, to meet with her because he suffers from a bronchitis”.

“Algerian and German authorities decided, on Monday, by mutual agreement, to postpone the official visit of Ms. Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, to Algeria”.

“This visit will be programmed again at a date that will be fixed by the two parties later”.

German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, was expected to pay a one-day visit Algeria at the head of a delegation of businessmen, in order to meet the President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and the Prime Minister, Abdelmalek Sellal.

“Talks were supposed to revolve on the exchange of views, particularly on relationships between Algeria and the European Union, the situation in the Maghreb, the Sahel region and the Middle East, and the development of cooperation, economic partnership and trade exchanges between the two countries”.

Same statement downplayed the severity of President Bouteflikas illness, who will reach the age of eighty within weeks, and confirmed that he is in Algiers, and did not leave for abroad, asserting that “this visit will be programmed again at a date that will be fixed by the two parties later”.

Previously, President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, traveled to France for medical treatment, in November 7, 2016, where he was transferred to Grenoble clinic to conduct routine medical tests.

In April 2013, President of the Republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, suffered a stroke and was taken to the French military hospital Val-De- Grace for treatment in Paris.

After returning to the country in July of the same year, Bouteflika exercised his duties in the form of resolutions, letters and meetings with senior officials in the state and foreign guests, without appearing in a field activity.

President Bouteflika moved on a regular basis to the French and Swiss hospitals for the follow-up of medical tests after this ill-health.