Italy-Algeria: Terzi in Algiers on Thursday to build new strategic partnership

ROME, Italy, March 13, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Minister Giulio Terzi will be in Algiers on Thursday for a visit that, according to Special Envoy for the Mediterranean Maurizio Massari, will serve to “build a strategic partnership” between the two nations. The visit will also be preparatory to a bilateral summit to take place within the year.

“Algeria is an example of political stability in the Arab Maghreb region”, Massari said to the official Algerian agency APS, “and has put into practice some highly important elements of political openness, in particular independent parties and a free press”. Citing his recent visit to Algeria, Massari described a political climate that “has placed the political process in the hands of the citizenry”, also underscoring Algeria's decision to accept the presence of European observers during the upcoming legislative elections “as proof of further political forthrightness”. Speaking of the 15-year development plan launched in Algeria, Massari pointed out that the country would have to establish “the conditions necessary to encourage foreign investments in general, and Italy's in particular”.

“It is my belief”, Massari added, “that Minister Terzi's visit to Algeria, and above all the bilateral summit being planned for the autumn of this year, will give major new impetus to our country's economic partnership”. Confirmation of this also is the fact that Terzi will be accompanied by a delegation of Italian business persons.