Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár (Smer-SD) and his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Attaf officially opened the representative office of Algeria in Bratislava on Tuesday, with both ministers confirming their interest in further deepening cooperation between the two countries.
"We've opened Algeria's first embassy in Slovakia in the capital city. This is a significant milestone in our future cooperation and a milestone for intensifying our mutual relations with Algeria," said Slovakia's chief diplomat. The opening of the embassy is a reciprocal step taken by Algeria in response to the decision to reopen the Slovak embassy in Algiers.
At a joint meeting, the ministers signed a memorandum that is intended to serve as a roadmap for future cooperation. As part of this cooperation, they want to revitalise 10 of the 17 agreements that the countries have concluded with each other. "They should reflect a new generation of cooperation," said Blanár, adding that both countries also want to deepen cooperation in the economic, business, and energy sectors, as well as in the defence industry.
According to Attaf, there are extensive opportunities for cooperation, including energy, alternative energy systems, car manufacturing, the pharmaceutical industry, agriculture, digitisation, higher education, scientific research, and water management. He considers it important to accelerate the setting up of a government commission and a joint council of entrepreneurs and employers from both countries. "I'd like to personally complete the construction of this infrastructure with you, so that a way would be open and we could take advantage of all opportunities for cooperation," he stated.
Source: TASR
