Moscow offers its help to set up a nuclear power plant in Algeria

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov Sunday said a nuclear power plant in Algeria with the help of his country.

The minister is expected to pay a working visit to Algeria on Monday upon invitation from his Algerian counterpart Ramtane Lamamra.

“Energy cooperation is an important part in economic and commercial relation between the two countries. Many Russian energy companies have been successfully working with Sonatrach for years. Russia highly appreciates coordination with Algeria,” he told l’Expression French-speaking daily newspaper.

He added that Algeria and Russia signed a governmental agreement in September 2014 about cooperation in peaceful use of nuclear energy.

“Moscow and Algiers will discuss the possibility of enabling Algeria to use nuclear technologies out of energy field. In medicine for example,” he said.

He stressed the possibility of stepping up Algerian agricultural products exporting to Russia.  Trade volume between the two countries is on the rise and reached around $2 billion.

Speaking about security issues, Lavrov said the war on terror will be waged only with the sponsorship of the UN and can be won only through union.

« Terrorism can not be effcienctly fought only if there is cooperation with the UN, » he added.

Speaking about cooperation, he said mechanisms were set up to make information exchange easier. “Our nations which suffered terror gained a big experience in countering terrorism.”

“We appreciate cooperation between Russian and Algerian administrations. Five years ago, a joint ministerial working teams were assigned to fight terror and organized crime.”

“I am sure that our joint action with Algerian partners in countering terrorism will support common efforts of the international community,” he added.