01:18Algeria: Syrian FM Faisal Mekdad arrives in Algiers to strengthen ties after more than a decade of isolation
Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad arrived in Algeria during an official visit on Saturday, where he met with Algerian Foreign Minister, Ahmed Ataf, for bilateral talks.
Footage shows Mekdad, Ataf and delegates from both countries sitting around a table at the Algiers International Airport Houari Boumediene
During a speech, Mekdad spoke highly of Syria and Algeria’s relationship and stressed the need to further strengthen ties between Damascus and Algiers
"I came here to express the sincere feelings of the leadership of the Syrian Arab Republic, most notably President Bashar al-Assad, towards the Algerian leadership,” he said.
“Our consultations with our brothers in Algeria have not been interrupted in terms of all regional developments and worldwide. We need to boost these ties in order to reflect the sincere vision of the people and the leadership of the two countries,” he added.
The Foreign Minister also thanked Algeria for its support in the aftermath of the catastrophic earthquakes which rocked Syria and neighbouring Turkey earlier in the year.
“It was the first country to send a trained and qualified rescue team who had carried out actions in response to the catastrophic repercussions of the earthquake,” he said.
Mekdad is scheduled to hold talks with the Algerian leadership in a bid to strengthen bilateral relationships during his visit to the capital
The Syrian Foreign Minister also visited Saudi Arabia earlier in the week to meet with his counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saudat in Jeddah.
Syria is attempting to re-establish ties with other Arab nations following a period of relative isolation amid a decade of brutal civil war.
01:18Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad arrived in Algeria during an official visit on Saturday, where he met with Algerian Foreign Minister, Ahmed Ataf, for bilateral talks.
Footage shows Mekdad, Ataf and delegates from both countries sitting around a table at the Algiers International Airport Houari Boumediene
During a speech, Mekdad spoke highly of Syria and Algeria’s relationship and stressed the need to further strengthen ties between Damascus and Algiers
"I came here to express the sincere feelings of the leadership of the Syrian Arab Republic, most notably President Bashar al-Assad, towards the Algerian leadership,” he said.
“Our consultations with our brothers in Algeria have not been interrupted in terms of all regional developments and worldwide. We need to boost these ties in order to reflect the sincere vision of the people and the leadership of the two countries,” he added.
The Foreign Minister also thanked Algeria for its support in the aftermath of the catastrophic earthquakes which rocked Syria and neighbouring Turkey earlier in the year.
“It was the first country to send a trained and qualified rescue team who had carried out actions in response to the catastrophic repercussions of the earthquake,” he said.
Mekdad is scheduled to hold talks with the Algerian leadership in a bid to strengthen bilateral relationships during his visit to the capital
The Syrian Foreign Minister also visited Saudi Arabia earlier in the week to meet with his counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saudat in Jeddah.
Syria is attempting to re-establish ties with other Arab nations following a period of relative isolation amid a decade of brutal civil war.