French ambassador to Algiers: French authorities to reconsider security measures over Algerian travellers

Talking to Echourok during his working visit to the “black gold” capital Hassi Messaoud (southern Algeria), the French ambassador to Algiers, Mr. Xavier Driancourt has stressed the need to achieve progress at all levels and in all sectors of activities including the economic, diplomatic and even security and immigration issues, to overcome the apathy that characterizes the Algeria – French relationships.

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• Political tensions added to deep divergences over strategic issues between both countries made led to the a political stalemate and even the postponement of senior officials’ visits to both countries, including the French foreign minister’s visit to Algeria lately.
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• The French Ambassador has indicated that some outstanding issues have spoiled the existing relationships, most notably the inclusion of Paris to the Algerian nationals among the list of high- risk countries with the implementation of the “optical scanners” in the airports.  
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• In this context, the French Ambassador to Algeria Xavier Driancourt has declared to Echourok” nothing has been implemented at Pairs airports so far, these are normal inspection procedures implemented to all passengers coming from the countries mentioned in the list including himself… He went on saying that the Algerian authorities summoned him along with his US counterpart to inform them about their refusal of the move, signalling the tremendous efforts deployed by Algeria in the fight against terrorism”.
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• The French ambassador went on saying that the Algerian foreign minister Mourad Medelci has literraly declared “Algeria is keen to strengthen ties with Paris and forge ahead for the preservation of historical and social links between the two peoples, but the French party does not take into account these considerations, “.
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• Xavier Driancourt further added “I have forwarded the message literally to the highest authorities in Paris, which requested time to discuss the Algerian request; meanwhile Paris has sent numerous correspondences in which it explained that the decision obeys to purely security reasons denying any form of racism”.
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• The ambassador has indicated that the French authorities are likely to announce in the next few days the withdrawal of the Algerian travellers from the list of ” suspects ” ,despite the fact that this procedure has not been applied on the ground so far except the new inspection procedure concerning the provision of full and accurate information for the passenger travelling the French territory; therefore Bernard kouchner’s visit to Algeria is slated for the coming few days.
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• On the other hand, Xavier Driancourt has indicated that the expansion of visa arrangements by the Consulate of France in Algeria currently in force in the capital, started in each of Oran and Annaba, and the process will be completed before the end of 2010. More than 180 thousand visas have been issued for Algerians throughout the year 2009 confirming the that the visa’s denial process is effectively in a      continuous decline from one year to another awaiting the result for review of the 1968 agreement 1968   over the movement of persons.
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• He pointed out that visa applicants who are rejected can appeal their cases for free at the Consulate General arguing that the personnel are prone to error due to the size files that are processed daily.
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