Integrating Arab nations into the world economy depends on reinforcing the rule of law and diminishing corruption within each country, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said Monday.
"The judicious choice of an economic system permitting our countries to face world competition will be in vain if it is not supported by social justice and the struggle against corruption," Bouteflika said at a meeting of central bank governors from Arab nations, according to Algerian news agency APS.
It was the Algerian President's first public appearance in over 50 days.
"We are thus, today, called upon to show a greater effort in implementing the integration, first among our own economies and then into the world economy," he said.
Algeria has ratified a United Nations Convention against corruption adopted by the General Assembly in 2003. The Convention describes corruption as a "serious threat" for democracy, socio-political stability and sustainable development.
The Corruption Perception Index compiled by the non-governmental organisation Transparency International - which rates countries on a scale of 10 (not corrupt) to 0 (very corrupt) - rated Algeria 2.8 in 2005. Ninety-six countries were listed as less corrupt than Algeria in the ranking, and 57 as more corrupt.