Participation of Algerian President Bouteflika in Paris summit unconfirmed

Algeria president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika didn’t clearly show his position as to his participation in the summit for the creation of the “Mediterranean Union” due to take place in Paris on July 13.

• Answering the journalists’ question, at the end of his meeting with the French Prime Minister, François Fillon, to whether the president intended to take part in the summit or not, this one was evasive and replied “ Everything on due time”.
• For his part, the French Prime Minister declared “there is a climate of great frankness between Algeria and France”…” I was warmly welcomed” he added. M Fillion went on saying that “there is willingness to put in force all the agreements signed during Sarkozy’s last visit to Algeria.
• Bouteflika’s stand regarding hi participation in Paris summit for the Mediterranean Union, largely depends on the future negotiations with his Arab counterparts especially that Israel is one of the participating parties in this summit.
• The Algerian president will have the opportunity to meet some of the Arab leaders during the next African Union Summit in Egypt slated for the beginning of July. To recall, the Moroccan king, Mohammed VI is one of the supporters of Sarkozy’s project which means, according to experts, that France will on its turn back Morocco concerning the Western Sahara.
• This position goes against the Algerian view on the question which expressed its complete support for the Western Sahara. For his part, Fillion denied any comment on the Algerian president’s position saying “I’m not Bouteflika’s spokesman”.