Paris “Wishes strongly” that Algeria agrees to welcome Boualem Bensaïd, one of the authors of the 1995 attacks in France who can be released from Friday 1is August provided that he could be expelled to his country of origin, said Jean-Noël Barrot. “It is an obligation that is the responsibility of the Algerian authorities at the end of the rules that govern our relationship”said the French Minister of Foreign Affairs on Franceinfo on Friday.
The Paris Court of Appeal authorized on July 10 the release of this 57-year-old Algerian, found in particular to have laid the bomb that exploded in the RER B Station Saint-Michel on July 25, 1995, killing eight and 150 injured. He was sentenced in 2002 and then on appeal in 2003 to life with a period of safety of twenty-two years.
This release is subject to a “Remote measure and subject to the condemned to leave French territory and not to appear there”.
Persistent diplomatic crisis
However Algiers and Paris has been going through a deep diplomatic crisis for more than a year, marked by expulsions of diplomats on both sides as well as a freezing of all cooperation, in particular migration and judicial.
Algiers notably rejects expulsion procedures from France. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said on July 23 that 120 people referred to by such measures were not taken up by the Algerian authorities.
“It’s been months since Algiers no longer accepts anyone from the list of individuals that France wants to expel towards Algeria. In this particular case, I believe that Algeria would show its sense of responsibility by taking up its national ”added on Friday Jean-Noël Barrot, regretting that relations between the two countries are “In a standstill” And by imputing this to the Algerian authorities.
Boualem Bensaïd is considered to be the coordinator of the wave of six attacks which struck France in 1995, claimed by the Armed Islamic group (GIA) Algerian, which reproached France, former colonial power, its ” support “ to the Algiers regime.
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His lawyer, Romain Ruiz, told the Agency France-Presse (AFP) not having any news from his release on Friday morning. He estimated that“Introducing this situation to the Algerian authorities is a rewriting of history”and that she is “Just as much” The result of the “Irresponsible policy of Bruno Retailleau”supporter of a hard line with Algiers.