France, Algeria declare "irreversible dynamic of progress" in ties
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French President Emmanuel Macron and his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune say"France and Algeria have decided to open a new era."
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French President Emmanuel Macron and his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune (AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron and his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune Saturday declared a "new, irreversible dynamic of progress" in their nations' ties, concluding a visit by Macron aimed at ending months of tensions.
Macron's visit comes less than two months after Algeria marked six decades of independence following 132 years of French colonialism.
It also comes as European powers struggle to replace Russian energy imports - including with supplies from Algeria, Africa's top gas exporter.
In their joint declaration on Saturday, the two leaders said "France and Algeria have decided to open a new era ... laying the foundation for a renewed partnership expressed through a concrete and constructive approach, focused on future projects and youth."
At the signing ceremony, Tebboune described the French President's visit as an "excellent, successful visit... which allowed for a rapprochement which wouldn't have been possible without the personality of President Macron himself."
Macron visited Algeria on Thursday hoping "to lay a foundation to rebuild and develop" a tense relationship with the North African nation, especially since ties between Paris and Algiers became particularly stormy last year when Macron questioned Algeria's existence as a nation before the French occupation and accused the government of fomenting "hatred toward France."
Tebboune withdrew his country's ambassador in response and banned French military aircraft from its airspace. Normal diplomatic relations have since resumed, along with overflights to French army bases in sub-Saharan Africa.
On Friday, Macron considered that the African nation helped Europe diversify its energy supplies by pumping more gas to Italy.
Read more: Macron warns France of 'sacrifices' ahead
French politicians angered by Macron's proposals
During his visit, Macron announced that an additional 8,000 Algerian students would be admitted to study in France this year, joining 30,000 already in the country. He also announced the creation of a joint commission of historians to examine the colonial period.
However, in France, both left and right-wing politicians were angered by the proposal.
Far-right leader Thomas Menage tweeted that Algeria should stop "using its past to avoid establishing true, friendly diplomatic relations."
Meanwhile, Socialist party leader Olivier Faure noted that in 2017, Macron had called French colonialism a "crime against humanity," then later questioned the existence of Algeria as a nation prior to the colonial period.
"The lightness with which he deals with the subject is an insult to wounded memories," Faure tweeted.
