ALGIERS - 25 agreements, memos, protocol and executive programs for cooperation were signed here Monday at the conclusion of the 2nd Session of the Joint Syrian-Algerian Higher Committee.
Syrian Premier Mohammad Naji Otri and His Algerian Counterpart, Ahmed Ouyahia signed the minutes of the Session, which include the agreed-upon issues of cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, finance, customs, banking, industry, transport, agriculture, communications, informatics, irrigation, tourism, electricity, housing, infrastructure, health, information, sport, education, culture, social affairs, vocational training and civil defense.
Further, the signed minutes and related documents include memos for judicial cooperation, protocol for projects operations and launching, labor and vocational relations protocol, cinema production agreement, executive programs for tourism and education cooperation.
A co-operation protocol for the implementation of the signed double-taxation evasion, and income tax evasion was also signed.
Agreements on customers' protection, commodities control, competitiveness, memos for small and medium establishments' development, industry, were also signed.
Executive programs in the field of specification and quality control, sport, were signed too; a memo and protocol for customs and archiving, information exchange, and statistics were, further, signed between Algerian and Syrian Customs Authorities.
The 2nd Session of the Joint Syrian-Algerian Higher Committee has decided to amend the signed agreement on joint investment promotion and protection.
As far as the political side, both sides voiced satisfaction over their countries' standing bilateral relations, reiterating their determination to upgrade and improve them in all fields.
The Syrian and Algerian Premiers underlined their strong belief in Arab solidarity, commitment to its bolstering, and the importance of continued support to the Palestinian People and their legitimate resistance against the Israeli occupation as to restore their rights, including the right to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, with the holy Jerusalem as its capital, as well as the right to return.
Both sides, further, called for the necessity of exerting every effort for the realization of Palestinian reconciliation and unity, lifting the siege imposed on Gaza, opening of the Crossings, asserting that the measures carried out by the Israeli occupation troops in Jerusalem are but illegal, illegitimate, void, and null.
Further, both sides reiterated commitment to the realization of the just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East in implementation for the related international legitimacy resolutions, Madrid Terms of reference, the principle of the land for peace, and the Arab Peace Initiative, securing the return of the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of June 4, 1967.
The Syrian and Algerian sides condemned sanctions approach among states as to blackmail and exert pressure in international relations, calling for the rejection of double standards in international relations, resorting, instead, to the principle of dialogue as a means to resolve crises and settle differences among states.
With this in mind, the Algerian side expressed solidarity with Syria as far as the so-called 'Syria Accountability Act', which is but transgression of United Nations resolutions and of international law principles.
Premier Otri, in a joint press conference with Premier Ouyahia, described the concluded Session as 'outlining a future vision through an executive time-tabled program for the signed agreements, asserting that accord was reached as to find solutions for commodities flow related issues, trade exchange upgrading, joint exhibitions organization, citing the role of businessmen to this effect as to reach to strategic partnerships.
President Bouteflika voiced keenness on the developing of cooperation with Syria Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika reviewed with Syria's Premier, Mohammad Naji Otri, here Monday, the outcomes of the two-day 2nd Session of the Joint Syrian-Algerian Higher Committee and the signed agreements. The talks during the meeting attended by Algerian Premier Ahmed Ouyahia, touched upon Arab conditions development, and Palestinian Arena conditions. President Bouteflika, voicing Algeria's keenness on the developing of cooperation with Syria, highly appreciated Syria's stances, under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad, on Arab causes, asserting Algeria's solidarity with Syria, supporting the Syrian efforts for the restoration of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.
In press statements following the meeting, Premier Otri declared that the directives of president Bashar al-Assad and His Algerian brother Bouteflika, have been fully translated into reality through the signed agreements in bolstering of the standing distinguished relations between Syria and Algeria. Premier Otri added that President Bouteflika outlined during the meeting his vision regarding the strengthening of the Syrian-Algerian relations through permanent follow-up to what has been agreed upon, and time-tabled executive programs.
By Al-Ibrahim
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2010
