Venezuelan President Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias arrived on Tuesday in Algiers for a two-day working visit which is meant to reinforce "friendship and multiform cooperation ties between Algeria and Venezuela." At his arrival in Houari-Boumediene international airport, Chavez was received by President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika. According to APS, Bouteflika and Chavez, who already met many times both in Algiers and Caracas and in other international forums, will have a new opportunity to examine relations between both countries and as well as international questions of common interest.
Chavez has been a fierce critic of US President George Bush and the US-led war in Iraq.
Venezuela and Algeria were members of the non-aligned movement that tried to steer an independent course during the Cold War. The two countries still coordinate on policies towards Iran and the Middle East and on energy.
