Algeria denies political dispute with France

Algeria denied Monday a political dispute with France but said ties between the two countries could witness some coldness.

• Algerian President’s special representative Abdulaziz Belkhadem said in a statement he did not believe a political dispute existed with France.
• “Despite of the coldness affecting these relations sometimes because of positions and political developments, that does not mean there is a dispute between the two countries,” he said.
• Relations between Algeria and France should be based on mutual interest.

• On the criminalization of the French colonization of Algeria, Belkhadem said occupation “is a state crime and who inherited this state should apologize for the victims of this crime, who are the Algerian people.”