ALGIERS — On Thursday, Iran and Algeria signed five cooperation programs and three memorandums of understanding (MoUs).

They were signed at the Algerian-Iranian High Joint Commission meeting co-chaired by Algerian Prime Minister Abelmalek Sellal and Iranian Vice-President Es’haq Jahangiri.

The cooperation programs mainly concern youth and sports, vocational training and education, culture, as well as higher education and scientific research.

---Iran, Algeria reject foreign interference in region---

Jahangiri, who was in Algeria on a two-day visit, met with Speaker of Algerian People’s National Assembly Mohamed al-Arabi Ould Khalifa on Wednesday.

The two top officials denounced interference by outsiders in the internal affairs of regional countries, calling for closer interaction between Tehran and Algiers to resolve regional disputes.

Pointing to the tense situation in the Middle East and North Africa in the wake of destructive activities by terrorist groups, Jahangiri said foreign powers’ interference only complicate the problems.

“Influential countries like Iran and Algeria can cooperate to find ways to settle problems in Muslim countries,” the Iranian official stated.

For his part, Ould Khalifa expressed Algeria’s strong opposition to foreign interference in the internal affairs of the other countries, highlighting the dire consequence of interference in Syria and Iraq.

He also noted that Algeria tries to push for settlement of the regional crises in cooperation with the friendly countries, including Iran.

Last month, Algeria’s prime minister in a visit to Tehran discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the fight against terrorism and settlement of regional disputes.

Prior to his visit to Algiers, Jahangiri said he is going to negotiate with the North African country’s officials to avert further slump in oil prices.

“We should negotiate with the Algerian officials to find ways to stop a severe decline in oil prices,” Jahangiri told reporters in Tehran.

The Iranian vice president also met Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. They discussed way to expand ties and exchanged views on regional and international developments.