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European Commission Signs Accords With Algeria
ALGIERS (News Agencies) - European Commission President Romano Prodi on Saturday signed three economic accords with Algeria worth a total of 30 million euros ($28.6 million), on the second leg of a North African tour.
The accords, signed also by Algerian Prime Minister Ali Benflis, relate to technical assistance, training of personnel and supply of equipment in the telecommunications sector, and the training of journalists in the private media.
Prodi, on his first visit to Algeria, met President Abdelaziz Bouteflika earlier Saturday. During their talks, they discussed a possible association accord between the European Union and Algeria, officials said.
Tunisia and Morocco have association accords with the EU while Algeria is still negotiating an agreement, with issues such as immigration and the fight against terrorism still to be negotiated.
Prodi was due to leave Algiers later Saturday for Rabat.
On Friday, during the first leg of his three-nation tour, Prodi signed an accord with Tunisia, focusing mainly on education and water resource programs, amounting to 54.5 million euros.
The EU wants to establish a vast free-trade zone between Europe and Mediterranean basin countries by 2010.
During his trip to North Africa, Prodi also wants to encourage Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria to forge closer economic ties.
An EU official said 80% to 90% of exports from the three countries went to Europe while trade between them, at just four percent of exports, was derisory.
"How is it possible that each of these countries makes concessions to Europe that they wouldn't make to their brothers," the official asked.
The other goal of his visit, the first to the region by a European Commission president, is to assess how well relations between the three and the EU are progressing.
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