Yaqubi added in a statement to ‘Sputnik’ that despite the repeated tensions, the door to calm and understanding has not been completely closed. There is always room to rebuild trust, provided there is mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs, affirming that today it stands on strong sovereign ground open to those who deal with it with parity and responsibility.
Regarding the possible scenarios of the current scene, the Algerian parliamentarian explained that the two countries face two basic options: either rationality and strategic interests prevail, leading to the smooth reactivation of political and diplomatic dialogue channels, or media and political provocations continue, which will lead to an escalation not in the interest of both parties, especially concerning consular and cultural cooperation.
Regarding intentions towards internal Algerian matters, Yaqubi said: ‘We are not in a position to make official accusations, but we notice French rhetoric from right-wing political figures that is sometimes characterized by patronage or symbolic pressure, which is rejected by the Algerian people and its institutions.’
Yaqubi believes that the goal is not to undermine trust, especially since the current international reality does not allow for such adventures, particularly with Algeria’s increasing weight in energy, migration, and the African Sahel equations.
A statement issued by the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reported by the Algerian News Agency, stated that the French statement is ‘unacceptable in form and content,’ considering that it includes ‘a misleading and biased presentation of the facts’ and represents an attempt to directly address Algerian public opinion, holding the ministry exclusively responsible for the delay in the accreditation of French diplomatic and consular agents.
The French diplomat was received by the Director General of Protocol at the ministry, where harsh criticisms were directed at what Algeria described as a ‘serious breach’ of diplomatic norms. The same source indicated that the non-accreditation of French agents came in response to a similar French decision, where French authorities have refused for more than two years to accredit three general consuls and six Algerian consuls, in addition to 46 Algerian diplomatic and consular agents, despite their accreditation requests being submitted more than six months ago.
The statement explained that this French refusal caused significant harm to the Algerian community in France, negatively affecting the quality of services and consular protection provided to them. During the meeting, the acting official was reminded that Algeria strictly applied the principle of reciprocity after exhausting all diplomatic attempts to resolve the dispute.
The ministry also emphasized that the visa issue goes beyond accreditation matters, pointing out that France uses this file as a ‘pressure tool’ within a ‘hardline’ policy it seeks to impose on Algeria. Algeria accused France of breaching its bilateral and international commitments, including the Algerian-French agreements of 1968, 1974, and 2013, as well as the European Convention on Human Rights of 1950.
Algeria says Paris has focused unilaterally on the 1994 agreement concerning the deportation of Algerians in irregular situations, distorting its original intentions, leading to the deprivation of Algerian citizens of their acquired rights, including administrative and judicial appeal, and undermining the duty of consular protection.
