Algerian President Sends Message to President Khatami
The verbal message was delivered to the Head of President Khatami's Office Hojjatoleslam Seyed Mohammad-Ali Abtahi.
In the meeting, Abtahi pointed to the importance of relations between Iran and Algeria and expressed hope that the ties will be further expanded in all fields.
The head of president's office criticized certain occasionally violent behavior that tarnish the image of Islam in the world and called for unity among the Muslim world to prevent such behavior.
The Algerian ambassador conveyed the best regards of the people and government of his country for Iran's government and people and delivered a verbal message from President Bouteflika for President Khatami.
He said the officials of Algeria and especially President Bouteflika are interested in further expanding of relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Khatami and Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika decided to reestablish diplomatic ties in September after a meeting on the sidelines of the UN Millennium Summit in New York.
Algiers broke off diplomatic relations with Tehran in 1993, accusing Iran of openly supporting Algerian radical Islamist rebels, whom the Algerian authorities blame for the bloodshed in that country since 1992.
Bouteflika was elected president in April 1999, one day after all other candidates withdrew from the race alleging electoral fraud in favor of Bouteflika, widely regarded as the army's candidate.
His electoral victory drew a cool response from Tehran. But Bouteflika soon praised reformist moves by the Khatami's administration, while Tehran has supported Bouteflika's bid to bring about national reconciliation in Algeria, which has included an amnesty for Islamist rebels.
The two countries have on a number of occasions found themselves taking similar positions on foreign policy and within the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
In 1979, Algeria expressed support for the Islamic Revolution which overthrew the Shah, and later served as a mediator between Iran and Iraq during their 1980-88 war.
(IRNA)