On Wednesday, French historian Benjamin Stora delivered his report on memory to President Emmanuel Macron, presenting Paris' vision to settle unresolved issues in the course of restoring the historical relationship with Algeria.
Among the most prominent ideas proposed by Stora are "the continuation of joint work on the French nuclear test sites in Algeria between 1960 and 1966, and their results, and the issue of laying mines on the borders."
Regarding the remains of the Algerian resistance fighters, Stora called for the continuation of the activities of the "Joint Committee of Scientific Experts" at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris.
The French paper, which contained 25 proposals, included an inventory of archives and archives that France had taken or left in Algeria, so that the latter could restore original archives. It also included the issue of working on issuing a "guide for missing persons" from Algerians and Europeans during the occupation period.
As for the rest of the proposals, they appear to the Algerian side to be secondary or rejected, as they focus on breaking down psychological barriers by promoting scientific and cultural activities, immortalizing personalities from both sides, and facilities directed to researchers.
Paris offers Algeria 25 reconciliation proposals without recognition, apology, or compensation (Al-Jazeera)
Provocative thoughts
However, what is striking about Stora-Macron's perception is that he is completely devoid of the aspirations of Algerians regarding "reconciliation of memory". The shocking stranger, from their point of view, is his presentation of provocative ideas to the national public opinion, especially the revolutionary family and the historical elite.
Among these exciting proposals, we read the demand for "negotiating the movement of the movement (clients) and their families between the two countries," and setting September 25 as an annual day to honor Al-Harakey and other members of the auxiliary formations in the war.
This comes at a time when Algeria has previously confirmed that it will not accept discussion at all about these agents, just as it refuses any material or moral compensation to European settlers, or those called black feet, who fled Algeria with the French army after independence in 1962.
Among the amalgamated issues is the proposal to "install a committee of historians on the assassinations of Frenchmen after independence," and "naming streets in the name of personalities from overseas," in addition to the idea of "giving more space to the history of France in Algeria in the school curricula."
In the first official comment after the historian Stora presented his report in his capacity as Commissioner of Paris, the French presidency renewed its exclusion of the "option of repentance and apology" for Algeria.
Mohamed El Kouraso: I am very confident that President Tebboune will protect Algeria's history from all fraud (Al-Jazeera)
A colonial vision
In his reading of the French side's insertion of stalled proposals for resolving the memory file, the historian specializing in relations between the two countries, Mohamed Ould Si Kaddour Qadour El-Qoursou, said that "the movement forms a deep wound in the body of France, which has crammed them into the camps designated for the Jews pursued by the Vichy regime during the World War."
He added that what was mentioned in Stora's perception is another attempt to bleach that dishonorable page, similar to a previous law enacted by Paris that criminalizes anyone who slanders or reminds them badly.
He emphasized that the agents and the aged black feet are a sensitive part of the so-called "war of memory", and thus they are a political card that the right-wing parties and the Elysee candidates are betting on to expand their electoral bases.
Qorsou warned against the idea of taking care of French history, as it is an extension of the law glorifying colonialism, or what is known as the legislation of February 23, 2005, because it will contribute to spreading the spirit of hatred towards Algerians in the hearts of students, including the members of the community in France.
And he considered that the imposition of Paris preceded topics alone, in exchange for ignoring the Holocaust, torture and crimes against humanity, would be impossible that threatens to abort the desired reconciliation.
He explained in a statement to Al-Jazeera Net that Stora's perception falls within a "colonial" (colonial) vision, at a time when Algeria's perspective revolves around the crimes committed against it throughout the occupation period.
This is what annoys France greatly and makes it evasive by raising provocative topics, according to Qoursou, who showed great confidence that "President Abdel Majid Tebboune will work hard to protect the country's history from any fraud, regardless of its source."
Amer Rakhila: Stora's paper is a dilution of the memory file, and Macron wants to get rid of it for a second term (Al-Jazeera)
Dilute and ambitious
For his part, historian Amer Rakhila said that such proposals made the French party at the center of the demands of Algeria to respond to the demands of pressure groups in France, to serve their interests and plans aimed at deepening dependency.
Stora's perception was considered a dilution of the Algerian people's demands, which have been explicitly expressed on more than one occasion by President Tebboune.
It seems clear now, Rakhila adds, that the French have not changed their approach to dealing with the memory file. He is still drawn to visions that "will not achieve any step in advancing bilateral relations, but will deepen the current rift."
The proposal was explained by President Macron’s search at the end of his presidential term for a way out to neutralize this file from his ambition for a second term in order to win over French public opinion, especially the pressure forces that denounced the Algerian position insisting on purifying memory.
Historian Rakhila concluded his speech by saying that Stora's report will inevitably reflect on the work process of the "mixed commission", as the French side will seek to push its Algerian counterpart to react by stopping contact and freezing contacts between representatives of the two countries.
3 conditions
On the other hand, the Secretary-General of the Mujahideen Organization, Mohand and Omar Bin Hajj, stressed that continuing the battle of memory with Paris is the responsibility of all Algerians, stressing that his organization adheres to its constant demands for half a century regarding the conditions for building a sound historical relationship with France.
And Omar Bin Hajj told Al-Jazeera Net that Benjamin Stora's report is an official vision of the Elysee Palace towards settling the memory, so it leaves an appreciation of the diplomatic position on it to the Algerian government.
However, Abdel Aziz Ghermoul, an elite of the sons of the martyrs, stressed that the demands of the Algerians, before reconciling with memory, are based on "the necessity of recognizing the crimes of colonialism in Algeria as a tragic crime that killed people and plundered land and wealth and brought our country back, not a civilization or a civil war." ".
He stressed "the correction of the false French school history and the withdrawal of the law of 23 February 2005 that glorifies the colonial existence in Algeria and other ancient colonies."
He also stressed in a statement to Al-Jazeera Net the automatic apology to the Algerian people for a civilized genocide that lasted 132 years, followed by a symbolic compensation to restore the moral consideration, so that "we can open horizons for a historical reconciliation and heal a bleeding wound whose painful effects are still present in every family, village and city." .