Algeria: Serbia's Defence Minister signs agreement

Serbia's Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac signed a military co-operation agreement with his Algerian counterpart, Abdelmalek Guenaizia, during his two-day 14-15th December visit to Algeria. Sutanovac told the media that: “Algeria is the Serbian Defence Ministry's most important partner in the military industry and both countries are interested in investing together in the development of new weapons and military equipment in the future.”

He was also reported to have met President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, but this remains unconfirmed, possibly because of his rumoured health relapse.

Sutanovac's discussions with Guenaizia centred on closer military ties and cooperation between the two countries. Their discussions reportedly covered:

a proposed expansion of cooperation between the two countries in military health care, in which Serbia claims considerable expertise

modernising the production of certain weapons and military equipment for the Algerian army

establishing Serbia weapons and military equipment plants in Algeria as part of its technology transfer programme

schooling Algerian officers at the Military Academy in Serbia

the visit to Serbia in the near future of a delegation of experts from of the Algeria's Ministry of Defence

a visit to Algeria by Serbia's President, Boris Tadic, in the first half of 2012.

For more news and expert analysis about Algeria, please see Algeria Focus and Algeria Politics & Security.

© 2011 Menas Associates