French ambassador urges French nationals not to leave Algeria
Ech-Chorouk, on Wednesday, October 10 , 2007
French foreign affairs ministry has been on high alert after French employees were evacuated from Algeria following Al-Qaeda threats.
French ambassador to Algeria Bernard Bajolet has held a meeting with advisers and CEO of French companies working in Algeria at the embassy headquarter. He reassured them of general security situation and reduced fears.
Mr. Bernard Bajolet hosted a dinner in honour of French businessmen, advisers and officials working in Algeria on Monday. He reassured that their lives and properties will be safe and he urged to enhance French presence in Algeria to maintain Paris’ superior interest.
According to press attaché at the French embassy, the ambassador said the current security situation in Algeria did not need the evacuation of French nationals’ families. He also mentioned that French companies are free to take any decision.
Bernard Bajolet said Al-Qaeda recent threats against French nationals and interests in Algeria are not the first threats and will not be the last ones.
He mentioned that France has got used to such threats and diplomatic delegation has to inform French nationals in Algeria about security events by means of foreign affairs ministry.
The French government is afraid that the 1990’s situation in Algeria characterised by the absence of French companies would happen again after Al-Qaeda threats and the terrorist attack that killed two French employees in Algeria last month.
Algerian interior minister Nourredine Yazid Zerhouni paid a two-day visit to France in October.
He held talks with French interior minister Michelle Alliot-Marie on ways to ensure the safety of French employees’ lives and properties in Algeria after the threats of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb against French interests in the North African country.
