The French President spoke in Algiers on the second day of his visit to Algeria.
Le Monde with AFP
Emmanuel Macron estimated on Friday August 26 that the search for “truth” and “recognition” was more important than “repentance” on the questions of colonization and the war of Algeria which poison the relationship between Paris and Algiers.
“I often hear that, on the memorial question and the Franco-Algerian question, we are constantly summoned to choose between pride and repentance. I want the truth, recognition, otherwise we will not advance Never, “said the French president at a press briefing in Algiers on the second day of his visit to Algeria.
Furthermore, he made a long visit to the European cemetery of Saint-Eugène, in the suburbs of Algiers on Friday. The French president and his Algerian counterpart, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, sealed their reconciliation on Thursday after months of diplomatic quarrel, especially around the question of French colonization (1830-1962).
reconciliation and meditation
Under a blazing sun, Mr. Macron first laid a wreath in front of the “Dead for France” monument, before the French army choir enuns the Marseillaise in the main cemetery of Algiers du Algiers time of French colonization. The French president was accompanied by the Minister of Defense, Sébastien Lecornu, and representatives of associations of veterans.
Then he wandered through the various sectors of the cemetery, in the company of the Algerian manager of the premises, in the middle of pines and cypresses, in a peaceful and collected atmosphere. He stopped in the military square, then at length in the Jewish square.
m. Macron notably collected himself on the tomb of the actor and director Roger Hanin, born in Algeria, buried in 2015 under a very sober marble slab. Then, he stopped in particular before a monument to the “three brothers, three heroes who died gloriously for France” during the war of 1914-1918: Maurice, Léon and Paul Mayer.