Algeria-Russia: Lavrov praises historical relations, strategic partnership

MOSCOW (Russia)- Russian Foreign Serguei Lavrov praised the "excellent historical relations" between Russia and Algeria, highlighting the importance of the strategic partnership and active dialogue between the two sides in all fields.
In an interview to RT Arabic, Lavrov stressed the "historical relations between the two countries" and the "respect between the two peoples," noting his country's support to Algeria during the National Liberation war against French colonisation.
The head of Russian diplomacy said the relations between his country and Algeria dated back before Algeria independence (1962).
"We have had, since then, a close relationship in all fields with an intensive political dialogue."
Lavrov cited the phone conversations between President of the Republic Abdelmadjid Tebboune and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, adding that "President Tebboune understands the meaning, the history and the future of the Algerian-Russian strategic partnership."
Algeria, he added, was the first African country to sign a Strategic Partnership Declaration with Russia in 2001, dubbing the agreement a "basis for our relations that gives a specific nature to our contacts."
With respect to bilateral political contacts, Lavrov recalled his meeting with his Algerian counterpart, Ramtane Lamamra, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session last September, and last years' events that "have shown the solid platform on which is based the political cooperation between the two countries."