Türkiye's Erdogan to Visit Algeria to Boost Economic Relations

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan receives President Tebboune during his recent visit to Turkiye. (file photo: Algerian Presidency)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan receives President Tebboune during his recent visit to Turkiye. (file photo: Algerian Presidency)
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Türkiye's Erdogan to Visit Algeria to Boost Economic Relations

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan receives President Tebboune during his recent visit to Turkiye. (file photo: Algerian Presidency)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan receives President Tebboune during his recent visit to Turkiye. (file photo: Algerian Presidency)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Algeria on Tuesday at the invitation of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

Talks between the leaders will focus on boosting relations in all fields, significantly strengthening economic ties.

According to Turkish sources, they will focus on boosting bilateral ties and address regional and international issues, notably the Israeli war on Gaza.

Turkish-Algerian ties have witnessed remarkable development at all levels in recent years and increased momentum after President Abdelmadjid Tebboune took power in 2019.

After assuming the presidency, Tebboune made his first visit to Türkiye in May 2022, 17 years after the last visit made by late President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Tebboune made a second visit in July.

Erdogan had last visited Algeria in January 2020.

During his visit, officials signed a joint declaration on establishing the Türkiye-Algeria High-Level Cooperation Council.

The countries had signed the "Friendship and Cooperation Agreement" in 2006 to improve their relations.

Erdogan and Tebboune met again on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2022.

Türkiye and Algeria maintain full coordination in resolving Palestinian and regional issues.

Earlier this month, Erdogan said he attaches great importance to his visit to Algeria, saying it has clear positions and significant influence in Africa.

On Monday, Turkish media quoted Türkiye's ambassador to Algeria, Mucahit Kucukyilmaz, as saying that many steps need to be taken between Ankara and Algiers, amid the high potential of both nations, especially in the economic fields.

Turkish investments in Algeria topped $6 billion, and trade volume between them reached $5.3 billion in 2022, said the ambassador, expecting it to exceed $6 billion this year.

The two countries' leadership plans to increase trade volume to over $10 billion.

Over ten agreements are on Erdogan’s agenda in Algeria. They cover economic and cultural affairs, including opening a branch of the "Turkish Agricultural Bank," al-Maarif School, and the Yunus Emre Institute in Algeria.



As Syrian Opposition Sweep into Aleppo, Army Closes Airport and Roads

A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)
A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)
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As Syrian Opposition Sweep into Aleppo, Army Closes Airport and Roads

A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)
A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)

Syrian authorities closed Aleppo airport as well as all roads leading into the city on Saturday, three military sources told Reuters, as the groups opposed to President Bashar al-Assad said they had reached the heart of Aleppo.
The opposition fighters, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, carried out a surprise sweep through government-held towns this week and reached Aleppo nearly a decade after having been forced out by Assad and his allies.
Russia, one of Assad's key allies, has promised Damascus extra military aid to thwart the opposition, two military sources said, adding new hardware would start arriving in the next 72 hours.
The Syrian army has been told to follow "safe withdrawal" orders from the main areas of the city that the opposition have entered, three army sources said.
The fighters began their incursion on Wednesday and by late Friday an operations room representing the offensive said they were sweeping through various neighbourhoods of Aleppo.
They are returning to the city for the first time since 2016, when Assad and his allies Russia, Iran, and regional Shi'ite militias retook it, with the insurgents agreeing to withdraw after months of bombardment and siege.
Mustafa Abdul Jaber, a commander in the Jaish al-Izza opposition brigade, said their speedy advance this week had been helped by a lack of Iran-backed manpower in the broader Aleppo province. Iran's allies in the region have suffered a series of blows at the hands of Israel as the Gaza war has expanded through the Middle East.
The opposition fighters have said the campaign was in response to stepped-up strikes in recent weeks against civilians by the Russian and Syrian air force on areas in opposition-held Idlib, and to preempt any attacks by the Syrian army.
Opposition sources in touch with Turkish intelligence said Turkiye, which supports the opposition, had given a green light to the offensive.
But Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said on Friday that Turkiye sought to avoid greater instability in the region and had warned recent attacks undermined de-escalation agreements.
The attack is the biggest since March 2020, when Russia and Turkiye agreed to a deal to de-escalate the conflict.
CIVILIANS KILLED IN FIGHTING
On Friday, Syrian state television denied opposition had reached the city and said Russia was providing Syria's military with air support.
The Syrian military said it was fighting back against the attack and had inflicted heavy losses on the insurgents in the countryside of Aleppo and Idlib.
David Carden, UN Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, said: "We're deeply alarmed by the situation unfolding in northwest Syria."
"Relentless attacks over the past three days have claimed the lives of at least 27 civilians, including children as young as 8 years old."
Syrian state news agency SANA said four civilians including two students were killed on Friday in Aleppo by insurgent shelling of university student dormitories. It was not clear if they were among the 27 dead reported by the UN official.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Moscow regarded the attack as a violation of Syria's sovereignty.
"We are in favor of the Syrian authorities bringing order to the area and restoring constitutional order as soon as possible," he said.