Catherine Ashton on a visit Tuesday to Algeria

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-president of the European Commission Catherine Ashton, will pay Tuesday a visit to Algeria, Foreign Ministry spokesman Amar Belani declared Monday. "This visit will be the occasion to pursue and deepen the dialogue on the state and the prospects of the relations between Algeria and the EU as part of the implementation of the Agreement of Association and the sector-based cooperation to reinforce it more in the interest of both parties," Belani added. In this regard, Algeria-EU relations have "improved and intensified" since the enforcement of the Agreement of Association, which is a general framework of cooperation aiming at promoting the political dialogue "reinforced, a mutually beneficial partnership and deepened human ties of neighborhood." "The two parties want to use their advantage and comparative potential to forge strong and diversified relations, to be reflected by as the upcoming conclusion of strategic partnership in the energy field," he said. This visit will also be an exchange of views on regional and international issues of common interest, he added. In this context, this visit will allow Algerian officials to discuss with the EU top diplomat the Mali crisis particular and the situation in the Sahel and in the Eastern Mediterranean in general. In addition, there will be on the sidelines of the visit, the signing of the financing agreements of three cooperation programs related to transport, culture and youth employment. This first ever visit of Ashton "testifies the importance attached by the European partnership to strengthen its dialogue and cooperation with Algeria."