ALGIERS, May 19 (KUNA) -- Algeria expressed on Monday its surprise at French authorities' decision to impose visas on diplomatic passport holders, affirming that it will reciprocate in accordance with the French side's violation of its obligations and commitments.
The Algerian government stated that it is following the recent astonishing developments regarding the issue of visas, and the exemption of diplomatic passports, said the Algerian Foreign Ministry in a statement.
The statement pointed out that "the French decisions are in complete disregard for the established diplomatic practices and in blatant violation of the Algerian-French agreement of 2013, which regulates visa exemptions for diplomatic passport holders and mission passports." Algeria expressed its "regret" for what it described as a violation of article 8 of this agreement, as it did not receive any official French message through the diplomatic channel.
The Algerian government stated that "the French side bears full and complete responsibility for the breaches of the 2013 agreement." It added that "these breaches immediately became the subject of an official statement from Algerian authorities, who condemned them." (end) mr.sas