France's Immigration Minister Eric Besson said Wednesday that requests for asylum from Afghans who work for the French military will receive favourable treatment.
Speaking after France deported nine Afghan migrants in its second such expulsion to war-torn Afghanistan in as many months, the minister said the policy should not be viewed as compensation for the deportations.
"…obviously the interpreters for the French army who request asylum in France will have their cases reviewed with a certain kindness," said Besson.
"Those who worked for and helped the French army and whose lives might be under threat and would like to come to France will benefit from asylum," he added.
Besson said he agreed with Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Defence Minister Herve Morin "for special treatment for people who took risks to help the French army".
However, he signalled the government will not retreat on its controversial policy of deporting illegal immigrants.
Besson said the preference policy is "…nothing like a quid pro quo" for the deportations, saying the deportation of illegal immigrants cannot be compared with accepting more immigrants and granting of asylum.
The deportations have caused controversy within France's centre-right government.
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, a Socialist, told parliament Wednesday he was against the deportation push, and promised he would issue more visas to Afghans wanting to come and study in France than Besson can expel.
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