May 8, 1945 massacres drag France to recognize its colonial crimes

The French official, who paid an official visit to Algiers, was received by the President Bouteflika, the Head of the National Assembly and the Minister Delegate in charge of Maghreb and African Affairs, Abdelkader Messahel, referred to the person who represents his country in this celebration, but French newspapers had already indicated to the clerk of State for ancient war veterans, John Mark Todiskini.

For the first time, the French government sends an official representative to participate in the celebrations that immortalize the crimes which were committed by the French army in Algeria during the colonial era, noting that this issue is among the files that often poisoned the bilateral relationships in recent years, particularly since 2005, which noticed the issuance of the French law that glorified colonialism by the parliament, as the matter came somewhat to the decline of bilateral relationships that became cold, reaching the destruction of achievements.

French Special Representative for the relationships with Algeria did not elaborate in the details of this representation, and whether he will carry news about the apology of France for its colonial crimes in Algeria, noting that senior French officials felt embarrassed here in Algiers in more than one occasion, but they did not provide what was hoped by Algerians.

It is known that Algeria did not stop asking the French government through demanding apology and compensation for past colonial crimes, but the French authorities, remained committed to its policy, which is escaping to the front, while the most prominent response to the Algerian party in this regard, was the one that was released on the lips of the former French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, when he said that children are not responsible for their parents’ errors.

Current President Francois Hollande, and his predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy, are considered the Presidents who were more vulnerable to embarrassment on this issue, and that was during their visit to Algeria, in December 2007, for the first, and in December 2012 for the second, however, they knew how to escape from the trap.

Previously, Sarkozy acknowledged in front of students in Constantine Mentouri University, that the colonial system was “totally unfair” and declared that he is ready to face the past, but in contrast, he refused to apologize, saying: “I did come here to deny the past, I have come to tell you that the future is more important.”