ALGIERS – The Algerian authorities have carefully examined the letter addressed by the French President to his Prime Minister, as well as the explanations provided on August 7 to the Chargé d’Affaires of the Algerian Embassy in France by the Quai d’Orsay, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The Algerian authorities have carefully examined the letter addressed by the French President to his Prime Minister, as well as the explanations provided on August 7 to the Chargé d’Affaires of the Algerian Embassy in France by the Quai d’Orsay,” the same source noted, specifying that “the examination of the said letter and the explanations that accompanied it allow for important preliminary observations.”
“First and foremost, regarding the deterioration of Algerian-French relations, this letter exonerates France entirely of its responsibilities and places all blame on the Algerian side. Nothing could be further from the truth or reality. At every stage, the current crisis has regularly been the subject of official statements from the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These statements have systematically established the responsibilities in the escalation and reveal that the reactions and countermeasures adopted by the Algerian authorities were strictly and rigorously within the framework of applying the principle of reciprocity,” the statement noted.
“Secondly, the letter seeks to portray France as a country highly concerned with respecting its bilateral and international obligations, and Algeria as a state in continuous violation of its own. Again, nothing is further from the truth and reality. In this case, it is France that has violated its own internal legislation. It is also France that has failed to respect its commitments under the 1968 Algerian-French agreement on the movement, employment, and residence in France of Algerian nationals and their families, the 1974 Algerian-French consular convention, and the 2013 Algerian-French agreement on the exemption of visas for holders of diplomatic and service passports. It is also France that has focused solely on the 1994 Algerian-French agreement on the readmission of Algerian nationals residing illegally in France, distorting its purpose and diverting its true objectives. Finally, it is France that has disregarded its obligations under the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights.”
“All these French failings aimed only to override the rights acquired by Algerian nationals, who have often been arbitrarily and abusively expelled from French territory, deprived of the administrative and judicial remedies guaranteed to them by French law itself, and to completely empty the Algerian State’s duty of consular protection toward its nationals, wherever and whenever needed,” the statement emphasized.
“Thirdly, France, from the onset of this crisis which it itself caused, has approached its management in terms of power dynamics. It has acted through injunctions, ultimatums, and summonses. This reveals a profound misjudgment, as Algeria does not yield to pressure, threats, or blackmail in any form. These facts now inform Algeria’s response to the letter addressed by the French Head of State to the head of his executive.”
“Algeria wishes to recall, once again, that it has never historically initiated any request for the conclusion of a bilateral agreement for visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and service passports. On numerous occasions, it has been France, and France alone, that made such a request. By deciding to suspend this agreement, France offers Algeria the perfect opportunity to announce its outright denunciation of this same agreement. In accordance with Article 08 of said agreement, the Algerian Government will soon notify the French Government of this denunciation via diplomatic channels.”
“From now on, visas granted to French holders of diplomatic and service passports will be subject, in all respects, to the same conditions imposed by the French side on their Algerian counterparts.”
“Regarding the announcement of the reactivation of the visa-readmission mechanism, the Algerian Government notes that this measure is in flagrant violation of both the 1968 Algerian-French agreement and the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights. Algeria’s consular protection for its nationals in France will be unwavering. It will assist them in asserting their rights and ensuring that all protections guaranteed by French and European law against abuse and arbitrariness are upheld.”
“The letter from the French Head of State to his Prime Minister presents a biased account of the issue of diplomatic and consular accreditations between the two countries. For more than two years, it is France that has taken the initiative not to grant the requested accreditations to Algerian consular personnel, including three Consuls General and five Consuls. On this matter, as with others, Algeria has merely applied the principle of reciprocity. Once the French obstacles are lifted, Algeria will respond with similar measures. This position has already been conveyed to the French authorities and remains in effect,” the statement clarified.
In its final provisions, the letter from the French Head of State to his Prime Minister lists several bilateral disputes that should be resolved. Algeria, for its part, also intends to bring to the French side, through diplomatic channels, other disputes that should be addressed with the same approach toward resolution.
(APS)
