Turkey Apologized For Algeria in 1986, Rehabi

Former Minister of Information, Abdelaziz Rehabi, said the Turkish government filed a written apology for Algeria as for voting against the independence of the North African nation from the French occupation, when the case was discussed in the UN in 1957.

Such an apology remained secret like information for more than 25 years, though. 

Mr Rehabi, former Algeria Ambassador to Spain, indicated that “What Algerians should know, is that in 1986 the Turkish government has submitted to Algeria a written request for forgiveness undersigned by the then Turkish PM, for standing against a UN Resolution for the independence of Algeria.” He further specified that the written apology was handed over to former President Chadli Benjdid by a Turkish envoy.

Ouyahia “shocks” the political class

To recall, Prime Minister, Ahmed Ouyahia stated Saturday that “Turkey had not supported Algeria in the Liberation War (1954-1962), and more than this, she voted against the Algerian cause in the UN.” He further addressed PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan without mentioning his name, saying “Please don’t make business with the blood of Algerians,” in reference to martyrs of the libration war.

Mr Ouyahia was reacting to the recent statements of Turkish PM Erdogan after that France approved a law that incriminates the denial of the 1915 Armenian Genocide in Turkey. Mr Erdogan accused France of committing genocide in Algeria during the 132 year colonial era, calling it first apologize for such crimes. 

Yet, the statements of Prime Minister Ouyahia provoked the indignation of the political class, which understood that Ouyahia biased “unduly” to France Sarkozy who still rejects apologizing for the heinous crimes committed in Algeria, while turning the back to a 6 centuries friendly Turkey. 

 In this regard, the head of the Algerian National Front (FNA) Moussa Touati told Echorouk reporter “Frankly, such statements are irresponsible, given that they were uttered by the Prime Minister, who is supposed to reflect the aspirations of the people,” adding that “Turkey is a friendly country, and she doesn’t deserve being treated like this.”

Meanwhile, a statement issued by Islamist movement of Ennahda reads that the statement of Prime Minister is “part of the set of falls of the regime, including the burial of the draft bill for the incrimination of the French colonialism.” Ennahda’ spokesman, Mohamed Hadibi, said “Ouyahia could not stand how Erdogan uncovered the government for standing against the bill of the incrimination of colonialism.”

However, the parliament major party FLN backed its partner in the coalition. The spokesman for the FLN, Aissa Kassa said: “Algeria doesn’t need a tutor,” yet welcomed “any good intentioned solidarity.”