Latest news with #AlgerianForeignMinistry
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
African state scraps visa-free deal for French diplomats
Algeria has revoked a decade-old agreement granting visa-free travel to French diplomatic and service passport holders, in retaliation for what it called France's 'provocation, intimidation, and bargaining' amid deteriorating relations between the two countries. The Algerian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Paris had informed Algiers of its suspension of the 2013 Algeria-France accord that exempted diplomatic and official passport holders from visa requirements. It said a senior French embassy official was summoned to a meeting where two notes verbales were delivered, one of which denounced France's decision. 'This denunciation goes beyond the simple suspension previously notified by the French side and definitively puts an end to the very existence of this agreement,' it stated. 'It [Algiers] reserves the right to apply to the issuance of these visas the same conditions as those set by the French Government for Algerian nationals. This is a strict application of the principle of reciprocity,' the ministry added. Fragile relations between Paris and its former colony began deteriorating in July 2024, when French President Emmanuel Macron endorsed a controversial Moroccan autonomy plan for the disputed territory of Western Sahara. Last month, Algeria withdrew all privileged access cards granted to staff of the French Embassy at the country's ports and airports, describing it as a reciprocal move in response to restrictions placed on its diplomats in France. On Wednesday, Le Figaro reported that Macron had sent a letter to French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou directing him to tighten visa requirements for Algerian diplomats. He also reportedly asked his interior minister to seek support from other Schengen countries in enforcing the policy, including by consulting France before issuing short-stay visas to Algerian officials and to holders of passports covered by the 2013 agreement. 'France must be strong and command respect. It can only receive this from its partners if it shows them the respect it demands from them,' Macron said. In response, Algeria said it is additionally terminating the free provision of state-owned properties used by the French Embassy in Algiers as part of efforts to 'introduce balance' in bilateral ties.
Russia Today
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
African state revokes privileges for French Embassy
Algeria has withdrawn all privileged access cards granted to staff of the French Embassy at the North African country's ports and airports, in a reciprocal move over what Algiers says are restrictions imposed on its diplomats in France. In a statement on Saturday, the Algerian Foreign Ministry said the country's embassy in Paris is facing 'persistent obstacles' in the delivery and recovery of diplomatic bags. The ministry said it had summoned the French charge d'affaires to protest the French government's 'blatant violation of international obligations.' Algiers said the measure, 'initially limited to the Algerian Embassy in France,' have been extended to consular posts as well, despite prior assurances from the French Foreign Ministry that it would review the measure. The latest dispute adds to mounting tensions between Algeria and France, whose relations have been beset by a series of diplomatic flare-ups in recent months. The two countries have often clashed over post-colonial grievances, migration policy, and France's recent backing for Morocco's stance on the disputed Western Sahara – a territory Algeria has long supported in its push for independence. In May, France announced it would expel Algerian diplomats in response to the former colony's decision to remove more than a dozen French officials, whom it accused Paris of appointing without following established protocols. Earlier in April, both countries expelled 12 diplomats in a tit-for-tat dispute sparked by the arrest of an Algerian official in France, prompting Paris to recall its ambassador. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot recently declared that ties between France and Algeria were now 'totally blocked,' despite earlier efforts by President Emmanuel Macron and his Algerian counterpart, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to ease tensions. During a phone call in late March, the two leaders pledged to pursue dialogue, and days later Barrot traveled to Algiers for talks on improving mobility and strengthening what Paris described as 'effective and constructive' consular cooperation.
Arab News
01-06-2025
- General
- Arab News
Algeria ‘regrets' Britain backing Morocco autonomy plan for W.Sahara
ALGIERS: Algeria's foreign ministry said it 'regrets' Britain's decision on Sunday to support Morocco's automony plan for the disputed territory of Western Sahara, overturning a decades-long policy in favor of self-determination. 'Algeria regrets the choice made by the United Kingdom to support to the Moroccan autonomy plan. In 18 years of existence, this plan has never been submitted to the Sahrawis as a basis for negotiation, nor has it ever been taken seriously by the successive UN envoys,' the ministry said in a statement.
