The Archbishop of Algeria holds France responsible for the deterioration of its relations with Algeria – The New Algeria

The Archbishop of Algeria, Cardinal Jean-Paul Visco, said that France bears responsibility for the deterioration of bilateral relations, because of its continued rejection of Algeria’s repeated and legitimate demands to recognize France’s colonial crimes in Algeria over a century and 32 years of occupation.
The Archbishop of Algeria explained in an interview with the government newspaper “Orizon” that “ We must dare to reconcile memories, not for the sake of accusation, but for the liberation of future generationsOne of the outstanding historical issues between the two countries.

Visco insists on the need for the French side to take the step expected of it, and stresses: “I say it with conviction: it is time to recognize each other and build true brotherhood. These are not just the words of an archbishop, but the words of a man committed to truth and friendship between peoples “.

John Paul Vesco acknowledges the existence of… A deep wound in the shared memory between the two countries, linked to colonial history The Frenchman is in Algeria, and it is a wound that has not healed yet, noting: Having lived here for more than twenty years, I feel this pain: it is not only historical, but intimate also “.
Jean-Paul Fesco holds Algerian nationality, but is of French origin, which gives his words political weight in France, especially among decision-makers there. Jean-Paul Fesco’s call to resolve the issue of memory comes at a time when voices in France are increasingly rising to express their opposition to any recognition by France of the colonial crimes committed in Algeria between 1830 and 1962, the last of which was the new French Minister of Transport, Philippe Tabaro, who is considered one of the sons of the founders of the Organization of the Secret Army (OAS), which brutally shed the blood of Algerians during the last weeks of the French occupation in Algeria, where he expressed his rejection of any French apology to Algeria.

The positions of the Catholic Church in Algeria, which is the only one recognized by the state, are usually consistent with legitimate Algerian demands regarding the colonial past, especially since many colonial countries have apologized to the peoples who suffered from their inhumane practices.

The French political community is living under the influence of a major division regarding how to deal with Algerian demands for France to apologize for its colonial crimes, so that left-leaning politicians argue that Paris should apologize and close this sensitive file once and for all, while the right-wing movement, with its various parties, figures and symbols, clings to refusing to apologise. Rather, they glorify colonial practices and consider them to have contributed to bringing civilization to Algeria. Extremely provocative claim.