Algeria: Macron’s words “unacceptable attack” on the memory of more than 5 million martyrs
Algeria denounced, on Saturday evening, the “declarations of French President Emmanuel Macron against him, considering them to be an unacceptable attack on the memory of more than 5 million resistance fighters killed by colonial France”.
According to the press release, the content of which was broadcast by state television, “Macron’s statements constitute an unacceptable attack on the memory of 5 million 630 thousand martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice, through courageous resistance against colonization. French, between the years 1830 and 1962 ”.
This is what emerges from a press release from the Algerian Presidency made public, in reaction to Macron’s declarations, described as “offensive”, about the colonial era and the internal situation in Algeria.
“The countless crimes of colonial France and the genocide against the Algerian people – which is not recognized by France – cannot be the object of offensive maneuvers,” the statement continued.
The text indicates that “the statements imputed to the French president have not been officially denied”.
The Presidency notes that “Algeria categorically rejects any interference in its internal affairs as contained in its statements and President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has decided to immediately recall, for consultation, the Algerian ambassador to France, Mohamed Antar Daoud” .
Macron, in his remarks, accused the Algerian authorities of fueling a “grudge” against France.
He also contested the existence of an Algerian Nation before the arrival of French colonization in 1830, wondering “Was there an Algerian nation before French colonization?” “
Macron claimed that “there was a colonization before the French colonization” of Algeria, alluding to the Ottoman presence in the country between 1514 and 1830.
Historians agree that the Ottoman presence in the country was the result of protection claimed by the inhabitants against the Italian and Spanish occupation of several coastal towns.
And the French president to continue his allegations: “Me, I am fascinated to see the capacity which has Turkey to make completely forget the role which it played in Algeria and the domination which it exerted. And to explain that we are the only colonizers, it’s great. Algerians believe in it. “
The Algerian newspaper “Echourouk” described Macron’s statements as “provocative”, indicating that they “put Algerian-French relations back to square one and reveal the extent of the fragility of bilateral relations enamelled by several poisoned files”.
“It was notorious in the words of the French president that he was looking for a subcontractor of the Interior to stand up against the Algerian-Turkish rapprochement, which is growing to the detriment of the deteriorated French heritage and this sub- treating can only be the Algerians themselves, a hope which remains a chimera since Algeria knows how to distinguish clearly between friend and enemy and does not wait for advice from anyone, ”the newspaper continued.
For some time now, political and diplomatic relations between Algeria and France have been going through a stage alternating tension and cold, and marked by an economic hemorrhage of French companies which left the country after the refusal of the Algerian authorities to renew their contracts.
For a few days now, Algeria has summoned the French ambassador to Algiers to officially protest against the Paris decision reducing the number of entry visas granted to its fellow citizens.
