APS: Diplomatic hypocrisy – France accuses Algeria while overlooking its own privileges
The French far-right is seeking “new false narratives,” accusing Algeria of benefiting from alleged French aid and failing to uphold bilateral agreements between the two countries, Algeria Press Service reported on Sunday.
The news agency’s article noted that the French far-right has shifted its focus to accusing Algeria of benefiting from alleged French aid while failing to honour signed agreements. Moreover, Bruno Retailleau, a prominent figure within this political movement, has been spreading these misleading claims, the source said, adding that “if any country truly benefits from bilateral relations, it is undoubtedly France.”
Last week, the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the French Ambassador to Algeria, Stéphane Romatet, to discuss a matter long overlooked by Paris: properties that Algeria has made available to France, revealing the imbalance in the relationship between the two countries, according to APS.
The Algerian news agency reported that France occupies a total of 61 properties in Algeria at very low rents. Among these properties is the French Embassy, located on a vast 14-hectare (140,000 square meters) plot in the heights of Algiers, “rented at a price so low it wouldn’t even cover the cost of a service room in Paris.” The residence of the French ambassador, known as “Les Oliviers” (Olive Trees), spans 4 hectares (40,000 square meters) and has been leased for a symbolic rent, a price that has not changed since 1962 until August 2023, the source said, noting that France “has never offered such generosity on its soil.”
Additionally, the article highlighted that numerous agreements allow France to benefit from significant privileges in Algeria. A prime example is the 1968 agreement that governs the status of Algerians in France, granting them a special immigration system compared to other nationalities.
“Paris constantly criticises this agreement, forgetting the benefits it gains from it, particularly the Algerian workforce that significantly contributed to France’s reconstruction and economic growth, while Algeria receives no similar privileges in France,” APS said.
Another example is the 1994 agreement, which regulates cooperation between the two countries in trade and investment, the news agency reported, adding that these agreements have allowed French companies to enjoy very favourable conditions in Algeria, while Algerian businesses face limited opportunities in France.
“Once again, the benefits are one-sided, primarily favouring the French economy.”
The Algeria Press Service article criticised the “hypocrisy of the situation,” calling for an end to misleading rhetoric designed to manipulate public opinion.
“Algeria has never been the main beneficiary of this relationship; it has always been France that benefitted from every agreement in its favour. If France now demands accountability, it should first hold itself accountable,” the article concluded.
