Maduro Arrives in Algeria to Strengthen Ties

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has arrived in Algeria in order to consolidate ties and the bilateral relationship between the two countries. He was welcomed at the airport by the African nation's Council President, Abdelkader Bensalah.

Part of the delegation accompanying Maduro included the Minister of Communication, Jorge Rodriguez, and the Minister of Culture, Ernesto Villegas.

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The objective of the visit is to develop and strengthen ties and relationships “based on respect, common development where the fundamental objective is the benefit of both peoples,” according to Venezuela's presidential press office.

After his visit to Algeria, Maduro plans to visit Istanbul, Turkey where he'll participate in a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement, NAM, of which he also presides over. The conference will be held in conjunction with 58 member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, OIC.

Established in 1961, NAM provided a forum for nations which did not align themselves with either the United States or Russia during the Cold War. A number of their draft resolutions have urged reform at the U.N., support for the Bolivarian revolutionary government of Venezuela, condemnation of Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory and U.S. and European Union sanctions on Zimbabwe, and a call for the end to the U.S. embargo against Cuba.

Founded in 1969, OIC member states are tasked with representing the “collective voice of the Muslim world” and works to “safeguard and protect the interests” of all Muslims “in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony.”