CIDOB Foundation - [07/13/2007]

Joan Clos, Chakib Khelil and Bernadino León present the CIDOB Yearbook

Chakib Khelil, the Minister of Energy and Mines in Algeria, announced that the monographic piece on Algeria included in the 2007 edition of the CIDOB International Yearbook, "will help to increase Spain’s knowledge of my countryand its economic potential", and he took the opportunity to "invite Spanish, and especially Catalan entrepreneurs" to invest in Algeria.

The presentation of the Yearbook, organised by the CIDOB Foundation and held in the Chamber of Commerce in Barcelona, was also attended by Joan Clos, the Spanish Minister of Industry, Tourism and Trade, Bernadino León, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Yahia Zoubir, professor of International Relations at the Euromed Marseille School of Management, Narcís Serra, President of the CIDOB Foundation and Miquel Valls, President of the Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation of Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Joan Clos declared that "Spanish investment is insufficient, and could be increased more in Algeria", at the same time as he warned that the invitation offered by his Algerian counterpart "should not be allowed to come to nothing, because there are excellent opportunities available, and not only with respect to the energy sector, but also in areas such as infrastructures, tourism and agriculture".

DIFFERENCES OVER ENERGY

Khelil also said that he was in favour of creating a "chair of Spanish civilisation and literature at the University of Oran". The Algerian minister called for "calm" with respect to the differences over energy issues that are currently affecting relations between the two countries. These differences are linked with the construction of the future Medgaz pipeline and Algeria's plan to increase the price of the natural gas it sells to Spain by 20%.

Following the declarations by his Algerian counterpart, Clos said that the project to build the new gas pipeline was a priority, in order to enjoy "a pioneering infrastructure in energy that will open up a new phase in bilateral relations between the two countries".

Bernadino León, meanwhile, said that Spain and Algeria have succeeded in overcoming a period of great tension. Furthermore, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Spain defined Algeria as a strategic priority partner, and declared that more work should be done in order to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two Mediterranean countries.

The CIDOB International Yearbook is a publication that presents an annual balance of Spanish foreign policy, the European context and the international situation. This year, the Country Profile monographic section is dedicated to the Republic of Algeria. The third largest gas exporter in the world, Algeria is the main supplier of gas to Spain, as well as being the ninth largest world exporter of oil.

>>See the program for the activity

>>Read Yahia Zoubir's speech (pdf 65kB)