Algeria Reacts to French National Assembly Vote on 1968 Agreement
Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf has declared the French National Assembly’s recent vote concerning the 1968 Franco-Algerian agreement as an internal French matter. This response, delivered during an interview with the Algerian International News Channel on Sunday, reflects the current state of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Vote and Its Implications
On Thursday, the French deputies approved a draft resolution, proposed by the far-right National Rally, that condemned the 1968 agreement. This agreement, established six years after Algeria gained independence from France, granted significant advantages to Algerian citizens. These included the ability to stay in France for more than three months without a visa and easier access to ten-year residency permits.
The vote, which passed by a single vote due to support from right-wing deputies and the Horizons party, has been a source of contention. The right-wing and far-right factions in France have long sought to annul this agreement. Attaf expressed his view that it was regrettable to see a country like France using the history of another independent and sovereign nation as a tool for early electoral competition.
Algeria’s Stance
Attaf emphasized that the matter is between the French National Assembly and the French government and is currently of no concern to Algeria. He clarified that Algeria would only engage if the issue became a matter between the two governments, given that the 1968 agreement is an international accord. He noted that the French government has not communicated anything to Algeria regarding the matter, and thus, Algeria is not currently reacting.
Historical Context and Current Tensions
The relationship between Paris and Algiers has been strained for over a year, particularly after France recognized a self-governance plan under Moroccan sovereignty for the Western Sahara in the summer of 2024. This recognition has added to the existing complexities in the diplomatic ties between the two nations.
The 1968 agreement, which provided specific benefits to Algerian citizens, has now become a point of political debate within France. The vote in the French National Assembly underscores the ongoing challenges and tensions in the relationship between Algeria and France.
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