(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) BRUSSELS, March 13 (KUNA) -- European Union High Representative Josep Borrell highlighted the interest of the 27-member bloc to strengthen the relationship with Algeria in a wide range of sectors, notably the energy sector.
'This is my first visit as High Representative of the European Union and I would like to thank the President (of Algeria, Abdelmadjid) Tebboune, as well as the Prime Minister Aimene Benabderrahmane for the very warm welcome, We have just had very open and very constructive exchanges,' he told reporters on Monday after the meetings in Algeria.
'We - the European Union and Algeria - already cooperate a lot, closely in sectors that are of common interest. And I'm here to discuss how best to take our relationship further, together, by making the most of our potential, the full potential of this relationship, which is both cultural, political and economic,' he said.
Energy is arguably an area where we have a well-functioning partnership. 90 percent of Algerian gas exports go to Europe, and we know that we can count on Algeria, which is a reliable partner and it has been in difficult times, he noted.
'We want to develop this relationship together with Algeria, not just for the present, not just for gas today, but looking to the future, favoring European investments in the renewable energy sector.
'It's the future. This future for Algeria is very promising, since Algeria has enormous potential in the field of renewable energies,' stressed Borrell.
On the trade side: more than half of Algeria's foreign trade is with our Member States - 56 percent of exports and 43 percent of imports, he said.
The fight against corruption and money laundering is also an important priority, both for the European Union and for Algeria, he stated.
The two sides also discussed geopolitical, regional and international issues.
'We talked about the Maghreb and the instability in the Sahel region, and in the Gulf of Guinea, which is of growing concern to us. We also discussed at length the peace process and the situation in the Middle East which worries us a great deal, with violence which threatens to engender a new escalation of violence in the occupied territories in Palestine,' he said.
The president (of Algeria) talked to me about it for a long time. We must redouble our efforts to ease tensions immediately, but also to reopen a political horizon for the peace process, he said.
'And in this context, I discussed with my Algerian interlocutors on our joint initiative with the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan and the Secretary-General of the Arab League (Ahmad) Aboul-Gheit to explore ways of reinvigorate peace efforts and preserve the prospects for a two-state solution,' he said.
'Everyone, except the government of Israel, wants it, and for us it is the only viable solution,' stressed the EU foreign policy chief.
Borrell said he also welcomed Algeria's election to the United Nations Human Rights Council saying that being a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council is 'very important.'
Finally, the two sides agreed to relaunch their High Level Security Dialogue and the first meetings will be held before the end of the year.
'This proves that Algeria is a trusted partner and a key player in the fight against terrorism in our common neighborhood,' added Borrell. (end)
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