ALGIERS (Dispatches) -- Algeria’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday it summoned France’s chargé d’affaires to protest a statement issued by the French Embassy regarding visa procedures.
The move followed a Tuesday announcement by the French Embassy that its diplomatic and consular staff in Algeria would be cut by one-third as of September due to Algerian refusal to grant visas to new personnel. The embassy warned the measure would reduce appointment availability and slow visa processing.