Macron: “The Most Important Is To Realize Historic Work, Reconcile Memories Rather Than Apologize”

Addressing the memory crisis with Algeria can be achieved by embodying reconciliation and not by offering an apology for the crimes of the colonial era,  French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday in an interview with the French magazine “Jeune Afrique” on a question about the extent of Paris’ willingness to apologize to Algeria.

“Decades ago, France took several steps unilaterally on this issue and the issue is not in the apology”, he added.

“The historian Benjamin Stora, who will report to me in December, does not support this argument, and what needs to be done is to do work on the history and reconcile the two memories. We must see the history before us.”

“As for me, I continued this work on recognition about the history and the example; the case of Maurice Audin, and in the depth, we remained closed on this file between recognition and apology on the one hand and rejection and pride on the other side. I want to be with the truth and reconciliation and President Tebboune affirmed his will in doing something similar”.