[ecr]"Amid the escalation and rising tensions that the French side has imposed on the relationship between Algeria and France, Algeria has not taken the initiative to provoke any rupture and has left the French side to bear full and sole responsibility," said the source.

Algeria "has adhered to calm, moderation, and restraint. In doing so, its sole aim was to exercise its rights and fulfill its duties toward its nationals living in France. French law, bilateral agreements, European law, and international law all stand on Algeria’s side, particularly regarding the consular protection of its nationals," added the source.

“The shortcomings observed in meeting national and international obligations are attributable to the French side, as evidenced by the abusive and arbitrary use of administrative deportation decisions against Algerian nationals, depriving them of the legal recourse guaranteed to them by French legislation itself," said the source.

"For its part, Algeria is mindful of its international standing and remains committed to respecting the entirety of the legal framework governing movement between Algeria and France, without selectivity or distortion of its purposes, as jointly established by Algeria and France," it noted.

"In this same spirit, Algeria categorically rejects ultimatums and threats. Likewise, it will enforce strict and immediate reciprocity to all restrictions imposed on movement between Algeria and France," underlined the statement.

"Finally, any challenge to the 1968 Agreement, which has in any case been stripped of all its substance, will be met by Algeria with an equivalent challenge to other agreements and protocols of the same nature, without prejudice to additional measures that its national interests might compel it to adopt," stressed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"In this way, the resentful and spiteful French extreme right will have won its bet. The Algeria-France relationship, that it has taken in hostage, will have been twisted to serve cheap and disgraceful political maneuvers," the communiqué wrapped up.  [/ecr]