Ramtane Lamamra: “Algeria Did Not Postpone Rohani's Visit”

Algeria did not ask the Iranian authorities to postpone the visit of Iranian President, Hassan Rohani, Foreign Minister, Ramtane Lamamra, said.

“Iranian authorities apologized and I had a phone conversation with Iran Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, who assured me that it is an internal affair and Rohani plans for a broader and longer African tour”.

Lamamra said in a statement to the press, on Wednesday, that “Merkel’s visit to Algeria was postponed because the President Bouteflika was ill, but we agreed that we work together to select another date that suits both parties. Her visit was postponed and not canceled”.

Regarding the visit of the Iranian President, Lamamra said: “Postponement of Rohani’s visit was due to the circumstances of the Iranian authorities in this country, which have changed the program, and Algeria did not ask for the postponement of the visit. I shared, on Tuesday, a phone call with my Iranian counterpart and I apologized, and he told me that it is an internal matter, because they are planning for a broader and longer tour to Africa. Do not forget that the Iranians are preparing to organize a Presidential Election on May 19”.

It is known that the Iranian Foreign Ministry, announced, on last Monday, the postponement of the visit of the Iranian President, Hassan Rohani, to Algeria. Prior to that, a statement of the Presidency of the Republic, announced that the visit of the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, has been postponed to a later date.

Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction with the International Reports, which monitor the situation in Algeria, pointing out in his response to the press: “Reports were false and not conform to reality, but we note that they improve.

 Algerian Foreign Minister responded in many times to what it called as “false reports” that dealt with several parties with “suspicious backgrounds”.