"a new presentation in order to obtain a visa but all agencies reject this method"



Good on Google translate..!

It means that agencies don't agree with the new method to obatin a visa for foreigner... but what are their reasons?
I think you have to ask to those you know very well.

RR.

"seraient en train de se renover" means that they are , may be, in a renovating process.... but it's not sure and knowing Algerian bureaucracy....
RR.

Nice words from Boutef. The Moroccan paper I read a couple of days ago also had those words, followed by a denounciation of Algerian two-facedness. Still always good to hope. I've been in both Figuig and Beni Ounif, as well as Oujda and Tlemcen. It would certainly be nice if the border was open.

The visa dance would still put people off Algeria, but it could be much easier for those who were going anyway. Anyway, it's all hypothetical until the gates point skyward.

*Departing from Fes airport today, there was a 'demonstration' by workers inside the terminal. Chanting, signs, a couple of Moroccan flags, and of course the requisite portrait of the king. All this being minded by a few guys in expensive suits and being recorded. Such a transparently staged display cannot have fooled anybody. Having it coincide with one of the few flights of the day at one of the few international airports seems to suggest that it was aimed at the mostly Spanish passengers on the way back to Madrid. It also suggests something amiss in some part of the regime: fear? uncertainty? definitely not quiet confidence, that's for sure.

Has anybody else ever witnessed one of these, recently or in the past?

Moroccans I know and those I have talked to love their king, and the changes he is seen as a symbol of (modernization). They don't like corruption and fear a military coup.
They also fear Algeria (=chaos).

Could the borders reopen on 17 May?


Morocco and Algeria on Monday signed a landmark agreement on agricultural cooperation. The two countries have been engaged for three months in a process of normalization of diplomatic relations broken there over 30 years. Public opinion welcomed this approach
Soon the reopening of the borders between Morocco and Algeria? In Rabat to Algiers as this event is raised seriously. Both capitals multiplied the signs of a warming of relations frozen for nearly three decades of simmering conflict, about the Western Sahara. Monday in Rabat, the Moroccan Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Marine Akhannouch Aziz, and his Algerian counterpart in charge of Agriculture and Rural Development, Rachid Benaissa, who came to participate in the International Exhibition of Agriculture (ACIS) signed an agreement on cooperation in food security between their two countries. Following this commitment, Morocco and Algeria will work to enhance each other's food security. Their experts will work together to popularize scientific research, develop animal and plant production, and fight against desertification.

Both countries also commit themselves to intensify their trade. The execution of the agreement will last five years. This is the first time a convention of this magnitude binds the two countries since the closure of their common border in 1994. For many observers, the sign is obvious: Morocco and Algeria have embarked on a process of normalizing relations. Their officials also suggest that evolution glib tongue. "We are neighbors and brothers and we work (...) for strengthening relations" bilateral, said Monday, Rachid Benaissa. "The continued closure of borders between two neighboring countries like Algeria and Morocco is not reasonable, the reopening of borders is necessary," said the same day, Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci, during an interview .

Contacts for three months

According to media in both countries, Algeria and Morocco have been engaged in reconciliation efforts for over three months. "There is no problem between Algeria and Morocco (...) The problem of Western Sahara is a UN problem. Morocco is a neighbor and brother. We must cooperate and we must cooperate, "launched the Algerian president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, inaugurating, Saturday, April 16, the event dubbed" Tlemcen, the capital of Islamic culture. " In late February, the Moroccan Minister of Energy and Water, Amina Benkhadra visited Algiers. A visit seen as a "relaunch of cooperation between Algiers and Rabat, according to the analysis of the Algerian daily El Watan . The daily online Everything about Algeria (TSA) , the Algerian authorities are actively preparing for the reopening of borders. In recent weeks, TSA writing they undertook renovation of checkpoints on some points on the border with Morocco. "We must open the borders, but first we must create the necessary conditions. When the decision is made, it will be applied in an honest and balanced in the interests of both parties. This can be achieved by continuing consultations between both parties. (...) We agreed to continue the exchange of visits in sensitive sectors. Visits that will continue until the end of the year, "said Mourad Medelci.

On Facebook, many groups of citizens from Algeria and Morocco have been created, and lobby for the resumption of relations between their two countries. Some of these groups argue even an official date for the opening of borders: May 17 "Families separated for 17 years on both sides of the border between Morocco and Algeria will soon have the opportunity to experience moments of reunion. The date of the reopening of the border is scheduled for 17 May. The party has already organized in the two brotherly countries. A date that the two neighboring countries will now celebrate together. The closure has cost every year and since 1994, two percentage points of growth in the Maghreb. Moroccans and Algerians are invited to view the two fraternal countries' flags on their facebook profile until 17.05.2011, the day of the reopening, "we read on News Morocco , which includes comments attributed to these militants.

Morocco and Algeria had severed formal relations in 1975, following the confrontation between their two armies Amgala, Western Sahara.

Increased police presence along the Moroccan/Algerian border

Ennahar Online - Thousands of Moroccans abandon their citizenship and flee to Algeria

"opening" a border does not necessarily mean opening the border for all. One can hope. If the problem in Libya is sorted i know which way i'm going to (try) go to Egypt. At the moment my whole trip is consistently jeopardised by trouble, corruption and stupid selective random borders regulations. Failing that its back on the ferry from Italy. Now if they'd only open the road from Egypt to Sudan or allow escorted journeys like they used to have in Egypt for tourists.

What is happening is remarkable, given the intense propaganda war that has been going on forever between the two.
Even if the borders will only be open for family reunions, someone should be there and see if they can sneak through. :)

Whatever happens, this is the only positive news for Sahara tourism for a very long time, no?
Cooperation between Morocco and Algeria will mean a resolution of the Western Sahara conflict which is at the heart of their problems. The loosers than will be Polisario (but not necessarily the Saharians). Everyone will gain from increased trade and travel.
And for us the gain would be increased security in Sahara.

The real loosers would be Aqim and other outlaws profiting from the current lawlessness.

So what is this all about? Citizens of M'hamid leaving Morocco by the thousands - for Algeria. Why would anyone rather be Algerian than Moroccan today?
Ennahar Online - Thousands of Moroccans abandon their citizenship and flee to Algeria

Hi,
according to LA VOIX DE L’ORANIE from 15-05-2011 the border is to open 2 June.

Moroccans saying they're waiting for the Algerians to move on the issue:

http://www.echoroukonline.com/eng/index.php?news=13432

Algeria answered today: no border opening by now :thumbdown:

The opening of the border between Algeria and Morocco is not on the agenda
Sunday, May 29, 2011 / 19:28


http://www.afrik.com/local/cache-vig...ton3-d13e0.gif Contrary to what the media thought for some months following the process of normalization of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Algeria, the reopening of the border between the two countries "is not on the agenda," said Ahmed Ouyahia on Sunday, Prime Minister of Algeria, but it "will happen one day or another," you it said, adding that it was not related to the Sahara issue Occeidentale reports La Tribune Online. Moreover, Ahmed Ouyahia has confirmed the government's desire to redeem Algeria's telecom operator Djezzy (Orascom Telecom Algeria)

http://www.afrik.com/breve31415.html

http://translate.google.es/translate...5.html&act=url

Geoff, real interested to hear if you pull this off. I'm wanting to do same in reverse direction towards end of the year.

Seems like further news has died about the Oujda border?

In any case - IF - the border opens, will the Algerian visa be issued in Morocco?

Getting the Algerian visa in Tunisia (as far as i heard) was pretty difficult. I applied for the Algerian visa in The Hague, got one after 2 weeks but unfortunately wasn't able to go.

Might want to take a look at this border coming winter.

Cheers!
Arno