Holland: I am not here to apologize
French President François Holland said on Wednesday he will not acknowledge massacres of Algerians by his country during colonization neither will he apologize for them.
“I did not come here … to seek repentance or (make) excuses. I speak what is the truth, what is history,” Holland told a news conference after a meeting with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
The Socialist president who is on a two-day visit to Algeria, invited Bouteflika to pay an official visit to France and said he has distinguished relations with Algeria.
Holland also said he will deliver a speech to Parliament’s deputies to talk about the truth about the French colonization and the Algerian war using words he judges appropriate.
He added that he intervened to open archives about the Maurice Audin issue upon his widow wife’s request.
“What I want is a strategic partnership between France and Algeria, treating each other as equals, that lets us enter this new era,” he said, adding that this would allow France and Algeria to not only turn a page but “to write so many others.”
A delegation of personalities who have distinguished relations with Algeria accompanied the French president.
Speaking about compensation for casualties following nuclear tests in the Algerian desert, Holland said a related law is revised so that Algerians will get their rights.
He showed sympathy to Algerians’ position toward the Arab Spring , saying an early and violent Arab Spring had happened in the 1990’s and political reforms are going on to come up with the constitutional amendment.
Holland hailed the Algerian unity, acknowledging that revolutions in the Arab World opens door to democratic practice.
He said France does not ask for favoritism but it works on giving the best and serving Algerians.
He called on Algeria to open an investment fund in France, adding that he works on fixing future features with Algeria.
Hollande officially announced an accord for the French automaker Renault to build a factory in Algeria with cars destined for all of Africa.
Speaking about the crisis in Mali, the French president said the two sides agree on political dialogue “but only with movements that are separating from terrorism.”