Algerian Radio
Ms. Ségolène Royal, President of the France-Algeria Association, called on Tuesday in Algiers for a new era of Algerian-French cooperation based on historical truth and the restitution of archives, insisting on mutual respect between the nations "as equals."
"I came [to Algeria] to listen and learn in two areas: economic creativity and culture. Because the Association for Friendship between France and Algeria, which I preside over, has been working for over 60 years on the development of dialogue, friendship, exchange, mutual understanding, and the search for common perspectives," she said in a statement to the press following an audience granted to her by the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
She assessed that "the history between France and Algeria is a wounded history, made of domination, of shameful violence, but also of struggles, of resistance, of intertwined destinies, of families built between the two shores, of common economic and cultural projects, of partnerships and potentials too often hidden or unknown that we must highlight."
"We must push back against political posturing, provocations, and divisive discourse from those who do not want Algeria to move forward and who do not yet want to admit Algeria's national sovereignty, its diplomatic role in the world, its decision of non-alignment, and its total freedom to choose its alliances and its causes," she stated, adding, "I deeply respect this, and I hope that the French authorities will also end up respecting this national sovereignty of Algeria."
For Ms. Royal, "a repaired friendship between our countries and our peoples must be realized; I wish for it with all my heart to build bridges of knowledge and respect through dialogue," she noted.
According to her, "the first gesture France must make, which should have been done a long time ago, is the restitution of cultural property and archives, and I will put all my strength into it. First, the objects of Emir Abdelkader and other Algerian personalities." It is also about "returning the remains of all the Chouhada (Martyrs) kept at the Musée de l'Homme so that they may be honorably buried, as President of the Republic Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune has said."
"Then all the archives, which are kept in Aix-en-Provence and which have been partly digitized and therefore can be returned very quickly. The Canon of Algiers located in Brest. All of this was actually confirmed by the mixed History and Memory commission in its report of November 22, 2023," she continued.
To this must be added "the archives and the complete file on nuclear tests in the Sahara in order to measure the extent of the damage and repair it," she insisted.
Evoking the words of Emir Abdelkader: "Man is great by what he knows, and noble by what he does," she pleaded for the restitution to the Algerian people of "objects that belong to them."
"That is what I will tell [French] President Emmanuel Macron upon my return to urge him to act in this direction, as he had essentially said at the beginning of his five-year term," she added.
"I would like to end with this beautiful thought from the Algerian Saint Augustine, born in Tagaste, who wrote this: 'The truth is like a lion; let it loose, it will defend itself,'" calling to "liberate the truth of our pasts and build a new alliance through common projects, as equals."
She emphasized that "rebuilding the friendship between France and Algeria is a duty we owe primarily to the young generations on both shores who ask only to develop their projects together."
