French diplomat: Restoring consular relations between Algeria and Paris has nothing to do with gas
The former French ambassador to Algeria, Xavier Driancourt, said that re-increasing Algeria's share of visas to 100 percent has nothing to do with the gas file.
Tebboune and Macron paved the way last August to soften the visa regime for Algerians in return for cooperation in combating clandestine immigration.
In a statement to Europe 1 radio , the former French ambassador explained, "Paris' decision to restore consular relations between Algeria and France means raising Algeria's share of visas to 100 percent from 50 percent."
He continued, "The decision to restore consular relations with the Maghreb came in line with the organization of the World Cup, which raises many questions about why the French authorities took this decision at this time."
In his response to the relationship of the announcement of the restoration of consular relations to normal between Algeria and France with the gas file, Xavier replied that: "I do not think that the gas crisis that France is suffering from was a reason for the return of consular relations between the two countries."
Here, the French ambassador to Algeria (2008-2012/2017-2020) asked about the failure of the French authorities to provide any details regarding the motives and reasons for the decision to restore consular relations to normal with the countries of the Great Maghreb (Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco).
The day before yesterday, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanan announced "opening a new page in relations between the two countries and ending the visa crisis."
Darmanan pointed out in a press statement after President Abdelmadjid Tebboune received him that the two countries "agreed to restore consular relations to what they were previously regarding visas and exchanges between the peoples of the two countries, to raise this exchange to the level of friendship between the two countries."
At the end of August/August, the two presidents paved the way for softening the visa regime for Algerians in return for Algeria's increased cooperation in combating clandestine immigration.
Paris had reduced by 50 percent the number of visas granted to Algerians to put pressure on the Algerian government to return their expelled citizens from France.
Source : websites