Remarks With Algerian Foreign Minister Mohamed Bedjaoui Before Their Meeting

SECRETARY RICE: Mr. Foreign Minister, I just want to welcome you. Algeria is an important partner and we are working very well together. I also want to just present you with something, if you will accept it, which is -- it's actually a copy of something that was given to us from the Archives of the United States. It is a treaty between the United States and Algiers. It's called the U.S.-Algiers Treaty of 1795. It is one of the earliest treaties that the United States of America signed. George Washington was still the President of the United States. Pickering was the Acting Secretary of State. And I want to give you this. It shows how long Algeria and the United States have been friends.

FOREIGN MINISTER BEDJAOUI: Thank you very much indeed. I am very impressed and also moved by this gesture. Thank you very much.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you. All right, now we'll go to work. Thank you very much.

2006/370