French calls ambassadors to soften visa-issuing procedures
Regional-France, Politics, 8/28/1998

French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine asked Thursday his country's ambassadors in countries from which a visa is required to enter France to improve the waiting and application conditions in their embassies.

During the annual meeting of France's ambassadors, the head of the French diplomacy said the procedures should be softened, and persons who contribute to the development of bilateral relations should be treated differently.

He added that these orientations are conforming to a government's policy and will act in close cooperation with the interior minister.

In a previous interview with the French daily "Le Monde," the foreign minister had said he was astounded when he found out the damage caused by the enforcement of restrictive visa-issuing procedures. Although he said he understood the motivation -- to prevent migration hazards -- he added that this policy has gone too far.

He deplored that as a result of this policy, elites have lost confidence in France, Francophony has lost its influence and France's image was degraded.

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