A desire for reconciliation of memories in French and Algerians "very widely shared", but which faces "some resistance" in Algeria.

This is the observation made by French President Emmanuel Macron, Sunday, April 18, during an interview with Le Figaro.

"I believe, on the contrary, that this will is very widely shared, in particular by President (Algerian Abdelmadjid) Tebboune. It is true that he has to reckon with some resistance ...", declared the Head of State.

He thus qualifies as "unacceptable" the declaration of the Algerian Minister of Labor, Hachemi Djaaboub, who affirmed that France was "the traditional and eternal enemy" of the Algerians.

The traditionally difficult relations between France and Algeria are experiencing a new cold snap after the postponement indefinitely of a trip by French Prime Minister Jean Castex to Algiers, scheduled for last Sunday.

"Neither in repentance nor in denial"

With the approach of the 60th anniversary of Algeria's independence (1962), Emmanuel Macron has nevertheless undertaken in recent months a series of "symbolic acts" in an attempt to "reconcile memories".

A dedicated report, submitted in January by historian Benjamin Stora, includes several proposals in this direction.

However, he was very freshly received in Algiers.

"Make no mistake, behind the Franco-Algerian subject there is first of all a Franco-French subject," said Emmanuel Macron to Le Figaro.

"Basically, we have not reconciled the fractured memories nor built a homogeneous national discourse (...) The fractured memory is that of the Pieds-Noirs, that of the harkis, that of the conscripts of the contingent, that of the military French, that of Algerians who then came to France, that of the children of this migration, that of binationals ... ".

"I am neither in repentance nor in denial. I believe in a policy of recognition that makes our nation stronger," he adds.

With AFP

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