Brahimi vists Algieria focusing on hot regional issues

The United Nations and Arab Leaugue Special Envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, was received Sunday by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in Algiers, the official APS news agency reported. The two officials discussed the latest developments in the Middle East, including the Syrian crisis and ongoing negotiations between the world powers and Iran in Geneva, Switzerland. APS released a picture showing Bouteflika, for the first time, standing on his feet, since he returned from a long medical trip to France, last July. Brahimi, a former Algerian foreign minister, has recently held talks with Russian and the U.S. officials in Geneva, Switzerland to set a date for the organization of peace talks between the Syrian regime and the opposition in Geneva. Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra said his country has not decided yet whether to participate or not in the Geneva II conference on the Syria. Lamamra indicated that his country supports efforts led by Brahimi aiming at restoring peace in Syria, saying when the date, the agenda and the list of participants are set, Algeria will decide how to support the process." The minister stressed that it is "necessary to establish dialogue to achieve a comprehensive political solution, rather than resorting to confrontation that would never come to serve the interests of the brotherly Syrian people." The first peace conference, held on June 30, 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland, failed to put an end to the raging war. The United Nations is intent to convene a second conference in November in Geneva.