Emmanuel Macron “regrets the controversies and misunderstandings” with Algeria and “has the greatest respect for the Algerian nation” and “its history”, said the Elysee on Tuesday, in a context of tensions linked to recent statements of the French President.
“The President of the Republic regrets the controversies and misunderstandings generated by the comments reported” and “he is strongly attached to the development of the relationship” between France and Algeria, said an adviser during a press brief devoted to the conference on Libya, organized Friday in Paris.
Macron’s “memorial rent”
Emmanuel Macron had triggered the anger of Algiers after comments reported on October 2 by the daily The world, accusing the Algerian “politico-military” system of maintaining a “memorial rent” by serving its people an “official history” which “is not based on truths”. According to the daily, he also affirmed that “the construction of Algeria as a nation is a phenomenon to watch. Was there an Algerian nation before French colonization? That is the question (…) ”.
“President Macron has the greatest respect for the Algerian nation, for its history and for the sovereignty of Algeria,” said the Elysee. And he wants the bilateral relationship to develop “for the benefit of the Algerian and French populations but also to respond to major regional challenges, starting with Libya. “
Algeria, a major and indispensable player
The presidency clarified that Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was invited to Friday’s conference to help Libya become a stable country again, in particular by preparing for the presidential election scheduled for December 24.
“Algeria is a major player in the region and the president wishes the participation of President Tebboune in this conference”, according to the adviser. Abdelmadjid Tebboune warned on Saturday that he would not take “the first step” to try to calm tensions with his French counterpart who, with his words, “has reopened an old conflict in a totally unnecessary way”. “Why did he say that?” I think it was for strategic electoral reasons, ”added Abdelmadjid Tebboune in an interview with the German weekly. Der Spiegel.