Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra said that Turkey is a very important international player, and we have "deep historical relations" with it, describing French President Emmanuel Macron's statements as a "grave mistake."
On the sidelines of the third ministerial meeting between Italy and Africa in Rome, Lamamra added, in a statement to Anadolu Agency, that Algeria and Turkey have deep historical relations and strong moral ties, and seek to strengthen their joint relations.
He added that Turkey has played an important role in the development process in Algeria in recent years, and that his country is looking forward to more Turkish partnership relations and investments in the coming days.
He added that his country supports the establishment of qualitative partnership relations with Turkey, which include all fields, expressing his optimism in this regard.
With regard to Libya, Algeria's eastern neighbor, Lamamra said that his country is ready to share its expertise, experiences and capabilities with the Libyan brothers to hold the elections (scheduled at the end of the year) transparently and democratically.
Regarding the Turkish role in Libya, he said, "Turkey is undoubtedly a very important player, and it has strong relations with Libya, and we hope that all parties will help the Libyans to forge a common future without interfering in their internal affairs."
He added, "After this deep crisis in Libya, which lasted more than 10 years, we call on all parties and leaders in Libya to consider that the time has come to open a new page in their history, and Algeria will certainly support this matter."
Macron's mistake
In response to a question about Macron's recent statements, he told Lamamra that "whatever the cause of the problem between France and Algeria, I do not think it will affect our relations with brotherly countries such as Turkey."
The French president challenged the existence of an Algerian nation before the entry of French colonialism into the country in 1830, and asked, denouncing: "Was there an Algerian nation before French colonialism?"
Macron claimed that "there was colonialism before the French colonization" of Algeria, referring to the Ottoman presence between 1514 and 1830.
Macron created a new crisis with Algeria with his statements that there was no Algerian nation before French colonialism (Al-Jazeera)
He added to Lamamra that Algeria and France have a long, difficult and complex history, and that his country has succeeded in dealing with this situation all the time.
He stressed that Algeria has always preserved its reputation, rights and sovereignty before France and any other country, and added that all partner countries, especially France, should understand well that Algeria will not make any concessions and will not allow interference in its internal affairs at all.
He renewed his country's categorical rejection of Macron's statements, describing them as a "grave mistake."
He told Lamamra that his country does not want to manage any problem with its international partners through the media, but rather through diplomatic means.
In response to Macron's statements, Algeria recalled its ambassador in Paris and closed its airspace to French military aircraft operating in the framework of "Operation Barkhane" in the African coast.
The Algerian presidency considered - in a statement - that these statements are "offensive", and represent what it described as "unacceptable prejudice" to the memory of more than 5 million Algerian resistance fighters who were killed by French colonialism.
Algeria is also considering reviewing economic and trade relations with the former colonizer, according to what was reported by the French-speaking "All About Algeria" website (exclusive) on the authority of an (unnamed) source who said he was close to the file.