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Europe eases Algeria visa rules | Europe eases Algeria visa rules |
(about 12 hours later) | |
French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy has announced that visa procedures for Algerians will be speeded up in 15 European countries. | French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy has announced that visa procedures for Algerians will be speeded up in 15 European countries. |
Mr Sarkozy, seen as a front-runner in next year's presidential election, was speaking on a visit to Algeria. | |
He said the 15 Schengen zone countries would no longer consult each other before issuing visas to Algerians. | He said the 15 Schengen zone countries would no longer consult each other before issuing visas to Algerians. |
The measure is expected to cut waiting times for visas from about 15 days to between one and three days. | The measure is expected to cut waiting times for visas from about 15 days to between one and three days. |
The Schengen zone countries agreed in 1995 that they would consult each other before granting visas to Algerians. The measure was prompted by concern about the Islamist revolt in Algeria. | The Schengen zone countries agreed in 1995 that they would consult each other before granting visas to Algerians. The measure was prompted by concern about the Islamist revolt in Algeria. |
The Schengen members are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. | The Schengen members are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. |
'Crimes in Algeria' | 'Crimes in Algeria' |
On arrival in Algiers on Monday, Mr Sarkozy said France and Algeria should strive to put past bitterness behind them and build "a common future". | On arrival in Algiers on Monday, Mr Sarkozy said France and Algeria should strive to put past bitterness behind them and build "a common future". |
"I come as a friend," he said, adding: "there must be no new humiliations" to harm relations between France and Algeria. | "I come as a friend," he said, adding: "there must be no new humiliations" to harm relations between France and Algeria. |
At the weekend, Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem demanded that France, the former colonial power, "acknowledge the crimes committed in Algeria" during France's 1830-1962 colonial rule. | At the weekend, Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem demanded that France, the former colonial power, "acknowledge the crimes committed in Algeria" during France's 1830-1962 colonial rule. |
Every year, thousands of Africans from north and south of the Sahara make desperate attempts to cross the Mediterranean and enter Europe. | Every year, thousands of Africans from north and south of the Sahara make desperate attempts to cross the Mediterranean and enter Europe. |
The BBC's Richard Hamilton in North Africa says Mr Sarkozy is the principal architect of a new French immigration bill which makes it harder for unskilled migrants to settle there, and abolishes their rights to remain after 10 years. | The BBC's Richard Hamilton in North Africa says Mr Sarkozy is the principal architect of a new French immigration bill which makes it harder for unskilled migrants to settle there, and abolishes their rights to remain after 10 years. |
The law also requires them to sign a contract agreeing to learn French and makes it more difficult for them to bring their families to France. | The law also requires them to sign a contract agreeing to learn French and makes it more difficult for them to bring their families to France. |
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