French leverage on Algeria to resolve “Aigle Azur” pending issue

Will the Sellal Government eventually enjoin the Bank of Algeria to yield in the “Aigle Azur” burning file by repatriating the 35 million Euros in benefits adamantly claimed by the French airline company to Algeria?

In recent days, the airline company, and the French authorities have been increasing pressures on Algiers: “Unprecedented media campaign relayed in Algeria, in France as well, diplomatic leverage are the order of the day in connection with the vexed issue”…

The campaign is cleverly orchestrated. In France, “Aigle Azur” puts employment in the balance. In a context of economic recession there, the argument weighs a lot in France. “This bleak situation threatens the very existence of “Aigle Azur” and its 1.200 employees”, said Sunday radio France Info.

This is partly what justifies the mobilization of the French government. “French Premier Manuel Valls questioned the Algerian authorities on two occasions about the matter during his last two visits, said Thursday, a local daily newspaper.

The other French argument, developed especially towards the Algerian public opinion: “The current logjam is covertly intended to favour distressed Air Algerie Company… Or: a blackmail exercised behind the scenes by some Algerian civil aviation executives, according to some media outlets. “Or mere  sabotage (…) “vis à vis Aigle Azur CEO  Ahmed Idjerouidene who has been standing for several years now, on the backyard of Air Algerie by grabbing 40% of air market shares between France and Algeria”, argued France Info channel.

However the French radio doesn’t at any time bring to the fore the solid Algerian arguments: “The 35 million Euros claimed by “Aigle Azur” correspond to taxes and unused tickets (therefore to be possibly reimbursed)”.

Bilateral agreements and the Algerian Foreign Exchange legislation don’t authorize the repatriation of these sums.

But these arguments do not count for the French side: “this week, the Algerian authorities are said to have begun making concessions concerning the “Aigle Azur” problem in order to ward off a hovering diplomatic malaise  between Paris and Algiers”, concluded France Info.

In all likelihood, the Bank of Algeria has already begun to buckle under the growing pressure.