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Dmitry Medvedev’s and Abdelmalek Sellal’s statements for the media after Russia-Algeria talks
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Dmitry Medvedev’s and Abdelmalek Sellal’s statements for the media
Algeria Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and I have just completed our talks. Our discussion was a good, substantive exchange of opinions on all issues of Russia-Algeria cooperation. It was the first visit by the Algerian head of government to our country, at least in the post-Soviet period. I’m sure this is a good beginning, considering the dynamics of our relations.
Algeria is one of our leading economic partners in northern Africa and in the Arab world and simply our long-standing and reliable friend. Our cooperation is decades long. We have carried out major projects in industry, energy, metallurgy, mining, machine engineering and the water industry. In the past, Russia trained professional personnel for Algeria and it still does today. We believe all of this is very important and are determined to develop this cooperation further.
In the past few years, our trade and economic ties have strengthened and we greatly value this, the volume having grown several fold. In 2015, it was near $2 billion. In the first several months of this year (first quarter), our trade turnover also grew. Our major companies are present on the Algerian market and are involved in developing hydrocarbons: Gazprom, Rosneft and Stroitransgaz. We are prepared to move further in this area.
There are also new sectors for cooperation, which are also very important. These are such high-tech sectors as pharmaceuticals, telecoms and shipbuilding. And, of course, we are counting on developing our cooperation in nuclear engineering due to its promising future. Russia has unique technology and excellent expertise in the field. If our Algerian friends choose to develop this sector we are prepared to provide them all the necessary assistance.
It’s a good thing that this time the Algerian delegation includes not only members of the government but also business people. Business people promote a vital environment for the development of most different contacts. Let’s hope that this visit, which comes during a major business forum, with over 200 business people from Algeria in attendance, will help strengthen business ties, not only between large but also small and medium-sized companies.
Naturally, we have also addressed the most challenging international issues related to the situation in the Middle East and North Africa. It should be noted that our countries have similar approaches towards many regional issues.
I’d like once again to thank my colleague for his constructive approach and the good intentions that were expressed during these talks. I’m sure that the further strengthening of Russia-Algeria ties will facilitate the development of relations between our states and will be in the interests of our nations.
Abdelmalek Sellal (via interpreter): I thank my colleague and friend, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, for extending his kind invitation to me and my delegation to visit Russia. My delegation includes not only representatives of government circles but also business people. Our visit today was crowned with our making a number of important decisions. We believe that this is a new chance to qualitatively strengthen our bilateral relations. I’d like to note that relations between Russia and Algeria are of a lasting historical nature. In April 2001, during President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s visit to Russia, they were capped with the signing of a bilateral strategic partnership declaration.
During today’s visit, a number of agreements were signed in various sectors, not only between representatives of official circles but also between business people. We believe that this visit has become the next step in the strengthening of our bilateral economic partnership. We act on the premise that both sides have the desire to strengthen these relations further even though they are very strong as they are. Russia is Algeria’s friend and Algeria believes in the further development of relations with your country.
Today, a number of decisions were made concerning bilateral economic relations. During a prolonged and intensive dialogue between the two delegations, we made a number of decisions to facilitate economic collaboration, provide new opportunities and diversify our economic partnership on Algeria’s part, as well as on the part of Russian companies operating in Algeria. We are determined to support the development of bilateral economic ties in the future.
Regarding political and security issues, naturally, we discussed the situation in the Middle East and regional security issues. During our talks we noted that on the majority of political and security issues we share a similar vision as we do regarding their solutions. I’m referring primarily to the situation in the countries of the Sahel, the Maghreb and the Arab world.
We agreed on the need to continue bilateral consultations on the aforementioned problems, especially on security, both internal and international. As I said, we agreed that we have similar positions on the majority of these issues. Algeria firmly believes in the right of peoples to self-determination and during our talks we agreed that all problems, any problem in the region, any crisis in the region should be resolved by peaceful means, by prioritising justice and respect for international law.
In closing, I’d like to thank my colleague and friend on my own behalf and on behalf of my delegation. We are very pleased with our visit to our friend Russia. Thank you very much.
Question (via interpreter): A question for the Algerian head of government, the prime minister. What is your view of the present status of relations between Algeria and Moscow and what is Russia’s place in Algerian politics?
Abdelmalek Sellal (via interpreter): Thank you very much. First of all, I’d like to point out that Russia-Algeria relations are of a long-standing historical nature. They began as soon as Algeria acquired its independence and they continue to date in a large number of areas. Politically, I’d like to note that right from the start, we had similar positions on most issues, since both our countries believe in peace and in the peaceful resolution of various problems.
Regarding other aspects of our relations, we believe that despite the fact that economic ties are developing, the time has come now to give them new impulse, a second wind. Therefore, we’d like to state today that Algeria is opening its market to Russian companies, for partnership with Russian companies. I’m primarily referring to Russian companies that are already present on our market through national companies that have been established in Algeria. The fact that a large number of Algerian business people are present here today, as well as the fact that we have signed a number of important agreements, all of this shows that we’re moving in the right direction and we’ve decided to continue along this path in the future, as we need Russia and Russia could become a promising market for Algeria.
Question: Andrei Biryukov, Bloomberg. I have a question about the oil market. As we know, oil producing countries have not reached an agreement on freezing oil production. Did you discuss this issue today? How close are Algeria and Russia on this issue? What is the probability of reaching an agreement by June or at the OPEC summit in June?
Dmitry Medvedev: Since we are talking about oil and possibly also about gas, both of which concern Russia and Algeria alike, your question is addressed to both of us, as I see it. I can tell you about Russia’s position. Of course, the results of the Doha discussions are not heartening, to put it mildly, because the framework agreements we hoped to formalise have not materialised because of the participating countries’ different attitudes to the existing problems. But we are not dramatising the situation. Why? Because, first, there are fundamental reasons affecting the oil market by pushing oil prices up or down. My Algerian colleague has come to Russia at a time when Brent crude increased to $47. This could be the result of his visit to Russia.
Joking aside, I am convinced that neither Russia nor Algeria is interested in serious fluctuations in the price of oil. In fact, this is also the main thing for all large oil and gas exporters. We don’t want prices to be super-high. We need oil prices to be stable, to cover the oil companies’ expenses, of course, to make these companies’ operations profitable and, consequently, to bring revenues to national economies. This is the kind of stable pricing both producers and consumers need.
Abdelmalek Sellal (via interpreter): Algeria is certainly concerned about oil prices, but we noticed long ago that the oil market is volatile, with oil prices growing one year and falling the next year. Most oil producing countries have become accustomed to this and Algeria is no exception. It is a fact that oil accounts for about 50 percent of our revenues, and hence we have accumulated reserves for the event of such fluctuations and their negative consequences.
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Dmitry Medvedev’s and Abdelmalek Sellal’s statements for the media
Algeria Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and I have just completed our talks. Our discussion was a good, substantive exchange of opinions on all issues of Russia-Algeria cooperation. It was the first visit by the Algerian head of government to our country, at least in the post-Soviet period. I’m sure this is a good beginning, considering the dynamics of our relations.
Algeria is one of our leading economic partners in northern Africa and in the Arab world and simply our long-standing and reliable friend. Our cooperation is decades long. We have carried out major projects in industry, energy, metallurgy, mining, machine engineering and the water industry. In the past, Russia trained professional personnel for Algeria and it still does today. We believe all of this is very important and are determined to develop this cooperation further.
In the past few years, our trade and economic ties have strengthened and we greatly value this, the volume having grown several fold. In 2015, it was near $2 billion. In the first several months of this year (first quarter), our trade turnover also grew. Our major companies are present on the Algerian market and are involved in developing hydrocarbons: Gazprom, Rosneft and Stroitransgaz. We are prepared to move further in this area.
There are also new sectors for cooperation, which are also very important. These are such high-tech sectors as pharmaceuticals, telecoms and shipbuilding. And, of course, we are counting on developing our cooperation in nuclear engineering due to its promising future. Russia has unique technology and excellent expertise in the field. If our Algerian friends choose to develop this sector we are prepared to provide them all the necessary assistance.
It’s a good thing that this time the Algerian delegation includes not only members of the government but also business people. Business people promote a vital environment for the development of most different contacts. Let’s hope that this visit, which comes during a major business forum, with over 200 business people from Algeria in attendance, will help strengthen business ties, not only between large but also small and medium-sized companies.
Naturally, we have also addressed the most challenging international issues related to the situation in the Middle East and North Africa. It should be noted that our countries have similar approaches towards many regional issues.
I’d like once again to thank my colleague for his constructive approach and the good intentions that were expressed during these talks. I’m sure that the further strengthening of Russia-Algeria ties will facilitate the development of relations between our states and will be in the interests of our nations.
Abdelmalek Sellal (via interpreter): I thank my colleague and friend, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, for extending his kind invitation to me and my delegation to visit Russia. My delegation includes not only representatives of government circles but also business people. Our visit today was crowned with our making a number of important decisions. We believe that this is a new chance to qualitatively strengthen our bilateral relations. I’d like to note that relations between Russia and Algeria are of a lasting historical nature. In April 2001, during President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s visit to Russia, they were capped with the signing of a bilateral strategic partnership declaration.
During today’s visit, a number of agreements were signed in various sectors, not only between representatives of official circles but also between business people. We believe that this visit has become the next step in the strengthening of our bilateral economic partnership. We act on the premise that both sides have the desire to strengthen these relations further even though they are very strong as they are. Russia is Algeria’s friend and Algeria believes in the further development of relations with your country.
Today, a number of decisions were made concerning bilateral economic relations. During a prolonged and intensive dialogue between the two delegations, we made a number of decisions to facilitate economic collaboration, provide new opportunities and diversify our economic partnership on Algeria’s part, as well as on the part of Russian companies operating in Algeria. We are determined to support the development of bilateral economic ties in the future.
Regarding political and security issues, naturally, we discussed the situation in the Middle East and regional security issues. During our talks we noted that on the majority of political and security issues we share a similar vision as we do regarding their solutions. I’m referring primarily to the situation in the countries of the Sahel, the Maghreb and the Arab world.
We agreed on the need to continue bilateral consultations on the aforementioned problems, especially on security, both internal and international. As I said, we agreed that we have similar positions on the majority of these issues. Algeria firmly believes in the right of peoples to self-determination and during our talks we agreed that all problems, any problem in the region, any crisis in the region should be resolved by peaceful means, by prioritising justice and respect for international law.
In closing, I’d like to thank my colleague and friend on my own behalf and on behalf of my delegation. We are very pleased with our visit to our friend Russia. Thank you very much.
Question (via interpreter): A question for the Algerian head of government, the prime minister. What is your view of the present status of relations between Algeria and Moscow and what is Russia’s place in Algerian politics?
Abdelmalek Sellal (via interpreter): Thank you very much. First of all, I’d like to point out that Russia-Algeria relations are of a long-standing historical nature. They began as soon as Algeria acquired its independence and they continue to date in a large number of areas. Politically, I’d like to note that right from the start, we had similar positions on most issues, since both our countries believe in peace and in the peaceful resolution of various problems.
Regarding other aspects of our relations, we believe that despite the fact that economic ties are developing, the time has come now to give them new impulse, a second wind. Therefore, we’d like to state today that Algeria is opening its market to Russian companies, for partnership with Russian companies. I’m primarily referring to Russian companies that are already present on our market through national companies that have been established in Algeria. The fact that a large number of Algerian business people are present here today, as well as the fact that we have signed a number of important agreements, all of this shows that we’re moving in the right direction and we’ve decided to continue along this path in the future, as we need Russia and Russia could become a promising market for Algeria.
Question: Andrei Biryukov, Bloomberg. I have a question about the oil market. As we know, oil producing countries have not reached an agreement on freezing oil production. Did you discuss this issue today? How close are Algeria and Russia on this issue? What is the probability of reaching an agreement by June or at the OPEC summit in June?
Dmitry Medvedev: Since we are talking about oil and possibly also about gas, both of which concern Russia and Algeria alike, your question is addressed to both of us, as I see it. I can tell you about Russia’s position. Of course, the results of the Doha discussions are not heartening, to put it mildly, because the framework agreements we hoped to formalise have not materialised because of the participating countries’ different attitudes to the existing problems. But we are not dramatising the situation. Why? Because, first, there are fundamental reasons affecting the oil market by pushing oil prices up or down. My Algerian colleague has come to Russia at a time when Brent crude increased to $47. This could be the result of his visit to Russia.
Joking aside, I am convinced that neither Russia nor Algeria is interested in serious fluctuations in the price of oil. In fact, this is also the main thing for all large oil and gas exporters. We don’t want prices to be super-high. We need oil prices to be stable, to cover the oil companies’ expenses, of course, to make these companies’ operations profitable and, consequently, to bring revenues to national economies. This is the kind of stable pricing both producers and consumers need.
Abdelmalek Sellal (via interpreter): Algeria is certainly concerned about oil prices, but we noticed long ago that the oil market is volatile, with oil prices growing one year and falling the next year. Most oil producing countries have become accustomed to this and Algeria is no exception. It is a fact that oil accounts for about 50 percent of our revenues, and hence we have accumulated reserves for the event of such fluctuations and their negative consequences.
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