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Algeria demands apology from France to overcome painful past

14 July 2012 00:18 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Algeria’s President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Friday called on French President Francois Hollande to make "lucid and courageous" examination of the painful past between Algeria and France, in a bid to overcome painful past between the two nations, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The local APS news agency quoted President Bouteflika as saying, in a message sent to his French counterpart, on the occasion of the celebration of the National Day of his country, that " relations between Algeria and France have preceded the colonial era, which particularly marked our common history, and left long- lasting marks on our two peoples," adding that "the wounds that resulted on Algerians are deep, yet, just like you, we would like to turn towards the future, and try to build peace and prosperity for the youth of our two nations."

Furthermore, the president evoked implicitly the long lasting demand of Algeria that France should recognize and make an apology for crimes committed by colonial forces during the colonial era in Algeria.

Observers said such an apology stands as the cornerstone for the aspired normalization between Algeria and France. For this, Algiers never ceases its demand from Paris to recognize crimes it had perpetrated during 130 years of occupation (1830-1962).

Bilateral relations were deteriorated during the era of right- wing President Nicolas Sarkozy, who conducted a restricted immigration policy, and yet categorically rejected to apologize for the crimes of the colonial France in Algeria.

In this regard, Bouteflika said to the leftist French President: "For this, time has come to exorcise the past, and within appropriate frame, make together lucid and courageous examination, which would contribute to the reinforcement of our esteem and friendship ties."

The Head of State further expressed his "full availability" to work in concert with French President Francois Hollande, in a bid to "strengthen relations, cooperation and dialogue, in addition to establishing partnership built upon potentials that our two nations enjoy, that ultimately would meet the aspirations of our peoples."

This message comes on the eve of a visit of French FM Laurent Fabius to Algeria on Sunday and Monday, at the invitation of his Algerian counterpart Mourad Medelci.