France denied reports of tensions with Algeria, asserting its aim to ease the relations, despite some unwarranted statements, after French Prime Minister Jean Castex called off his visit to Algiers.
Speaking during a news program at local media, Minister of State for European affairs Clement Beaune said there is sometimes use of “excessive words in Franco-Algerian relations.”
Last week, Algeria’s Labor Minister El-Hachemi Djaaboub described France as “our traditional and eternal enemy.”
Beaune indicated there was no need to recall the French envoy from Algeria due to Djaaboub’s statement.
"We must appease all this," Beaune said, adding that Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian was in contact with his Algerian counterpart to reschedule the visit of the prime minister.
The minister claimed the cancellation of the high-level meeting is not related to tensions, but to the COVID-19 crisis which prevented a large delegation of French officials from traveling to Algeria.
He stressed that in the midst of a health crisis the French authorities can’t travel, especially with a large number of representatives, considering it irresponsible to do otherwise.
"We collectively preferred to postpone this meeting which will take place in a few months," he said.
