PRIME MINISTER RETURNS FROM ALGERIA WITH ‘STRATEGIC COOPERATION’
By Mustafa Unal, Algeria

Zaman, Turkey
May 24 2006

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the first Turkish prime minister to visit Algeria
after an interval of 21 years, signed a “friendship and cooperation”
agreement with President Abdulaziz Buteflika yesterday.

This agreement, Algeria had previously signed with only Spain,
Portugal and Italy, shows the importance attached to Turkey, and their
relationship that will be based on a more strategic foundation with
this signature.

Erdogan and Buteflika, who met for three hours at Palace Muradiye in
the capital, sent messages of friendship.

Erdogan said the signatures are an investment in the fields of
politics, the military, economy, commerce, and culture between the
two brother countries.

During the sincere talks, Buteflika gave Erdogan the message, “We
consider ourselves as a part of the Ottomans and protect Ottoman
works here.”

Erdogan, reminding that Turkish Minister for Culture and Tourism
Atilla Koc also participated in the visit, emphasized that they would
do everything possible to ensure the restoration of Ottoman works in
the country.

“Let’s make the Mediterranean a peaceful basin again,” Buteflika
said, and stressed, they support Turkey on all issues, including the
Armenian issue.

In the talks, both countries reached a principle agreement in order
to make joint searches for oil, natural gas and metals.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress