Kasbah — Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem and his Algerian opposite number Mourad Medelci asserted, on Tuesday in Tunis, their countries' close stands on the Malian crisis.

Both reject any foreign intervention in the region and state their attachment to Mali's territorial unity, Mr. Abdessalem said at the end of a meeting between Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali and Algeria's Foreign Minister.

The two sides agreed to execute the recommendations of last April's Joint Follow-up Commission, notably stepping up investment and multiplying consular representations, Mr. Abdessalem pointed out. The volume of economic exchanges between the two countries has been up by 93%, he reminded.

"Borders between the two countries are safe," the Algerian Foreign Minister assured. A document pertaining to bilateral co-operation in matters of development will be signed on the occasion of Mr. Jebali's visit to Algiers, early December, he said.