Algeria and Kuwait pledge to cooperate

The Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mourad Medelci and Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Khalid al-Hamad al-Sabah, have pledged to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries. The leaders met at the Seif Palace, in Kuwait, on Sunday and discussed potential economic cooperation. Medelci and al-Sabah chaired their first political consultative meeting, where delegates discussed common Arab and international issues. Both sides agreed on the need to bring an end to the Syrian conflict, and affirmed their support for Arab and international efforts to solve the crisis in a peaceful manner, away from any foreign interference. In terms of Palestine, the two leaders reaffirmed the importance of Palestinian reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah, claiming that it would be a key step towards establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. Algerian and Kuwaiti officials vowed to tackle terrorism in the region, and backed international efforts to confront jihadist ideology which is "contrary to Islamic beliefs." Briefly discussing the Western Sahara issue, the leaders said they firmly supported dialogue between Morocco and the Sahrawi rebel national liberation movement, Polisario Front, within the framework of the United Nations. Kuwaiti officials also praised Algeria for its efforts to resolve the crisis in Mali. Algeria and Kuwait have signed a memorandum of understanding which allows diplomatic, private, and service passport holders to travel between the two countries without an entry visa. A second political consultative meeting has been scheduled to take place in Algiers in the first half of 2014.