“I simply say that, if we want results for the French and the French, we will have to return to a frank, lucid and demanding dialogue one day or later” with the Algerian authorities, “said Jean-Noël Barrot on Wednesday morning. The day before, the Elysée announced the expulsion of twelve Algerian consular agents, in retaliation for similar measures taken by Algeria.
France has demonstrated its capacity “to reply without hesitation and firmly” against Algeria but it will have to “ultimately” resume dialogue with Algiers “in the interest of the French”, said on Wednesday the head of French diplomacy on France Inter.
Dialogue, “the only way to solve tensions sustainably” for Barrot
At a time when criticisms rise in France on a line deemed too moderate on the part of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, the latter defended the method.
“We have an interest in having a normal relationship with Algeria, to get out of tensions so that we can expel Algerians in an irregular situation, that we can have a dialogue on intelligence, on the fight against terrorism, that we can also obtain the release of our compatriot Boualem Sansal today arbitrarily detained in Algeria,” he said. Dialogue is “the only way to solve tensions permanently,” he added, deeming “irresponsible” those who advocate something other than dialogue.
“We had to give the dialogue a chance,” he said then that he went to Algiers in early April where he met his counterpart Ahmed Attaf and President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. “We have obtained commitments,” he said. “It is an independent judicial decision which caused a completely disproportionate and brutal reaction to which we can only respond firmly,” he said.
Algeria’s response
The Algerian authorities declared on Sunday persona non grata twelve French officials from the Ministry of the Interior, giving them 48 hours to leave Algeria, in response to the arrest in France, then to its detention, of an Algerian consular agent.
Our file on Algeria
Algeria had defended its “sovereign” decision on Monday evening, bringing the French Minister Bruno Retailleau to the French Minister of the Interior “of this renewed tensions. This figure of the French right has made the voice of a line of firmness in recent months against Algeria, especially in migratory matters.
