French Ambassador to Morocco,Christophe Lecourtier,inaugurated this Tuesday a visa-applications processing center,“TLS Contact”,in Laayoune,translating France’s commitment to supporting the autonomy initiative under Moroccan sovereignty for the Sahara.
The inauguration of this center,affirming the strengthening of French consular presence in the Southern Provinces,bears political and symbolic dimensions beyond mere service providing.
In a statement during the inauguration ceremony,the French diplomat expressed “great joy accompanied by much emotion,” and asserted that this project embodies a promise that Paris had made months ago. The new center enables residents of the Southern Provinces to submit their visa applications under conditions similar to those available at French consulates in Casablanca and Rabat. “Any resident in Laayoune or other southern regions can now submit a visa application,of any type,with the same ease and professionalism,” Lecourtier stated.
The new center,which will operate under the supervision of the Consulate General of France in Casablanca,serves as the first gateway to France. It is equipped with advanced technical facilities for biometric data collection and ensures the return of passports with visas within a maximum period of two weeks for eligible applications.
He deemed that “the opening of this center puts an end to the difficulties encountered by visa applicants who previously had to travel to Agadir and bear additional burdens.” He added that this step “carries a strong symbolic dimension reflecting the principle of equality between the regions of the Kingdom,and highlights the status of the Southern Provinces in France’s relations with Morocco.”
In the same context,the French diplomat revealed other projects currently underway in the Southern Provinces,including a new French school in Laayoune that will enable students to take their baccalaureate exams locally,a French cultural center under construction,and a new space for a French alliance to be opened soon.
The Ambassador also referred to a recent visit by the Director General of the French Development Agency to Laayoune and Dakhla,which resulted in the announcement of structural development projects. He affirmed that this new dynamism translates France’s actual commitment to the development of the Southern Provinces,not only through diplomacy but also through education,culture,and economic cooperation.
The French diplomat stated further that “the high political commitments” that followed Paris’s declaration of support for the Moroccan autonomy proposal in the Sahara “have today become a tangible reality,directly benefiting citizens in the areas of visas,education,development,and culture.” He affirmed that this initiative comes within the framework of a long-term strategic partnership between Morocco and France.
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