On the National Day of Memory: Algeria insists that France should apologize for its crimes

Algeria affirmed its “strong adherence” to the demand that France “apologize for its crimes” during its colonization of the country during the period (1830-1962). Stressing that the quality of relations with France is related to the handling of the memory file, which must be cleared of colonial deposits.

This came in two messages on the occasion of the “National Day of Memory”, which was approved by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in 2020. This is the first time that Algeria celebrates the “National Day of Memory”, which coincides with the 76th anniversary of the massacres of May 8, 1945; As France suppressed at the time demonstrations demanding the independence of Algeria in the east of the country, which left thousands of victims. Read also The statements of a French writer incite the anger of the Algerian platforms .. What did he say?Advisor to the Algerian President: Colonial France worked to spread illiteracy Algeria protests against the French Press Agency’s description of a separatist movement as “democracy”File burial of nuclear waste in the Algerian desert

In a message on this occasion, President Tebboune said, “The quality of relations with the Republic of France will not come without taking into account history and dealing with memory files, which can in no way be waived, regardless of the justifications.”

Tebboune pointed out that the memory file workshops with France “are still open,” noting “the continuation of retrieving the skulls of our righteous martyrs, the file of the missing, retrieving the archives, and compensation for the victims of the nuclear explosions in the Algerian Sahara.”

The Algerian president stressed the need to handle these files with “seriousness and sobriety” in order to consolidate relations between Algeria and France “on solid foundations.”

And he added, “If looking at the promising future is considered the most important link in consolidating and valuing the bonds of the relationship between nations, then this future must have a solid foundation free of any impurities.”

He also highlighted Algeria’s permanent determination to overcome all obstacles and overcome all difficulties towards a better future, and to strengthen the exceptional partnership, so that its relations would rise to the strategic level if the appropriate conditions were created for this.

Tebboune noted that the Algerian and French people “are looking forward to a qualitative leap towards a better future dominated by trust and understanding, and that will benefit them in the framework of mutual respect and equality in which the interests of the two countries are preserved.”

For his part, Algerian Minister of Communication (Information), government spokesman Ammar Belhimer, affirmed in a message on that occasion that Algeria adheres to “the demand for a comprehensive settlement of the memory file, based on France’s final and comprehensive recognition of its crimes against the Algerian people and the provision of apology and fair compensation.” Stressing that this is a “principled position.”

The letter also included an affirmation that the settlement also includes “taking care of the remnants of nuclear explosions, including the disclosure of maps of waste sites resulting from these explosions.”

Belhimer pointed out that the National Day of Memory was chosen for its slogan “Memory refuses to be forgotten”, which summarizes “Algeria’s firm stance in demanding France to assume full responsibility for the crimes that left millions of victims throughout a century and 32 years of colonialism.”

It is noteworthy that Algeria asked France last month for maps of the locations of the nuclear tests, which were conducted in the desert of their country in the 1960s, to purify the region of radiation.

A few days ago, the Association of May 8, 1945 (non-governmental) announced its intention to file a lawsuit against France before international bodies on charges of “committing crimes against humanity.”

The death toll from the French massacres against the demonstrations, which took place in May 1945 in the regions of Setif, Guelma and Kharata (east of the country), reached 45,000, according to official Algerian estimates.

And in 2012, former President Francois Hollande admitted that France had carried out these massacres for the first time during his visit to Algeria.