Algeria expressed its “astonishment and surprise” today, Wednesday, regarding restrictive measures on movement and entry into French territory, condemning a new episode of “provocations.”
The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, in a statement carried by the official news agency, that it was informed of these measures “in any form as stipulated by Article 8 of the Algerian-French agreement concerning mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic passports or those on mission.”
Algeria also considered this decision “another link in a long chain of provocations, threats, and harassment directed against Algeria,” and emphasized that “it will have no impact on our country, which will not yield to them in any way.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot revealed on Tuesday that his country had imposed “restrictions on the movement and entry into national territory (affecting) certain Algerian figures.”
He clarified that these “measures can be reversed and will end once cooperation is resumed, as we are calling for,” on the eve of a ministerial meeting on migration control amid a major diplomatic crisis with Algeria.
Barrot did not specify when these restrictions were imposed or how many individuals were affected.
He explained that these measures were taken to “strengthen or defend French interests,” mentioning unresolved issues such as the detention of writer Boualem Sansal in Algeria or “the repatriation of Algerians in an irregular situation.”
However, he confirmed France’s willingness to “take further steps” if “French-Algerian cooperation in this area is not resumed.” He cautioned, saying, “But I will do this knowingly and without necessarily announcing it.”
Barrot’s statements come at a time when the government’s stance on Algeria is deeply divided between proponents of “balance of power,” such as Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, and those advocating diplomacy, like the Foreign Minister.
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