Catherine Ashton starts visit to Algeria

The High Representative of European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Vice-President of the European Commission, Catherine Ashton, has started Tuesday a visit to Algeria. Ashton was welcomed upon her arrival at Houari Boumediene International Airport by Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci. The visit, the first of its kind, will be marked by the signing of financing agreement of three cooperation programmes related to the sectors of transport, culture and youth employment. It will be also an occasion to continue and deepen dialogue on the prospects for relations between Algeria and the EU, especially within the framework of the implementation of the Association Agreement and the sectoral cooperation so as to further strengthen them in the interest of the two sides, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the eve of the visit. It will be also an opportunity for the two sides to discuss regional and international issues of common interest.