Paris welcomes back Algerian ambassador following row
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French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves LeDrian welcomes the return of Algiers' ambassador to Paris, following a diplomatic row sparked by Macron's derogatory statements.
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France regrets the controversies and misunderstandings generated by Macron's statements
France's Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves LeDrian, welcomed on Friday the return of Algeria's ambassador to Paris, revealing that Mohamed Antar-Daoud resumed his duties on Thursday, following a decision by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
The ambassador's return signals the end of the diplomatic row between the two countries, as Algeria took decisive moves following statements made by Macron against the North African country, which fell just short of glorifying France's colonial past in the country.
Algeria's 6-year war of decolonization and independence (1954-1962) resulted in the death of close to one million Algerians by French forces. Macron had said a year ago that there will be "no repentance or apologies" for France's occupation of Algeria.
Following news of the return of Algeria's ambassador, LeDrian told French BFM TV that all of this is good news, and expressed his joy regarding the return of Algeria's ambassador to Paris, as this will allow joint work between the two countries to continue.
"C'est une bonne nouvelle": Le Drian confirme le retour de l'ambassadeur d'Algérie à Parishttps://t.co/pUpZCeUIt2 pic.twitter.com/kOkwYgY19g
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) January 7, 2022
He added saying that there have been misunderstandings over the past few months with Algeria, and this has happened before. There have always been difficulties at one time or the other, but the two have always been able to resolve their problems.
The French ambassador has also returned to Algiers in December, and was received for a long time by President Tebboune.
A diplomatic row began between Algeria and France following surprising and unprecedented remarks toward Algeria by French President Emmanuel Macron, whereby he doubted if an Algerian nation had ever existed before French colonial rule over the country.
Macron declared that Algeria's official history has been completely rewritten, and is not based on facts. He also accused the Algerian President of being under the influence of his entourage.
Shortly after, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune told Germany's Der Spiegel that Macron's statements were derogatory to Algerians, and considered them to be dangerous.
