WASHINGTON, (Islamweb & Agencies) -Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika Thursday said he had assured US President George W. Bush he is committed to economic and political reforms and establishing the rule of law in the Arab North African nation. (Read photo caption below)."Algeria is resolutely committed to pursuing ongoing economic and political reforms to complete the transition to a dynamic market economy that creates jobs and wealth, and to definitively establish the rule of law," he said on leaving a White House meeting with Bush.
Bouteflika, making his first trip to Washington, also said that US investment in Algeria would expand beyond oil and gas into other economic sectors, and that both sides would soon sign a deal to encourage that process.
A US administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Bouteflika and US officials would sign a trade and investment framework agreement Friday at the US Trade Representative's office.
For his part, Bush urged Bouteflika to improve human rights in Algeria, and urged progress on political reform, the official said.
Bush and Bouteflika -- the first Algerian head of state to visit Washington in 16 years -- also discussed energy matters as well as issues pertaining to the North African region and the Western Sahara, said the US official.
In remarks to reporters in the White House driveway, the Algerian leader said he and the US president had also discussed the situation in the Maghreb, Arab North Africa, development efforts in Africa, and the Middle East peace process.
He also said he had informed Bush that Algeria was determined to pursue efforts to bolster the five-nation Arab Maghreb Union so that it can become "an organization for integration, in favor of peace, cooperation and concord among the peoples of the region."
Civil war broke out in Algeria after the army in 1992 prevented the now outlawed Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) from taking power by calling off the second round of general elections that the FIS had been poised to win.
The violence since then is estimated by the authorities to have claimed more than 100,000 mainly civilian lives.
PHOTO CAPTION:
President George W. Bush (R) shakes hands with Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika after their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House July 12, 2001. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque