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| Europe |
| Spain seeks Algeria as North Africa ally |
| 2002-10-06 |
| Spain said Saturday it was seeking in Algeria a main partner in North Africa after a strain in relations with Morocco. In diplomatic terms, this is known as "blowing razzberries"... Spanish diplomats in Madrid said their government's desire to make Algeria, as its preferable partner in the region would be discussed when Algerian President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika starts an official visit to Spain on Monday. One senior diplomat told United Press International that Bouteflika's talks in Madrid would focus on "security and intelligence cooperation to confront religious extremism, especially that Spain has become a haven for extremist Algerian groups." He noted that Spain has in recent years arrested more than 60 Algerians, including bin Sakhria, accused of affiliation with al Qaida. One thing Algeria's got is lotsa extremist nutcase groups. Well, actually only two main groups, but lots of members... The diplomat said talks with the Algerian president would also focus on boosting bilateral economic ties. Bilateral economic ties are more of a problem when gunnies are likely to shoot up your offices and cut your employees' throats... Businessmen in both countries have described Bouteflika's upcoming visit as "very important," and expect "the launching of unprecedented economic cooperation" with the anticipated endorsement of a gas pipeline project linking the two countries. The pipeline would pump the gas from Wahran in western Algeria directly to southeast of Spain, and eventually abandoning the pipeline that starts from Algeria and passes through Moroccan territory to Spain. "So think about that, next time you feel like invading Parsley Island..." |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |