ALGIERS- Accompanied by 16 ministers, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne arrived in Algiers on Sunday for a visit intended to give “new and concrete impetus” to the reconciliation initiated in August by the presidents of the two countries.
Upon her arrival at Houari-Boumediene international airport, the French Prime Minister, Mrs. Elisabeth Borne, at the head of a large delegation, was welcomed by the Prime Minister, Mr. Aïmene Benabderrahmane, accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the National Community Abroad, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, and by members of the government. “The time of misunderstanding is behind us,” she told reporters.
Elisabeth Borne kicked off her visit with memorial gestures, like President Emmanuel Macron during his trip at the end of August which, after months of tension, helped to warm relations between the two countries. On Sunday afternoon, she laid at the Martyr’s Sanctuary (Algiers), a wreath of flowers in front of the commemorative stele, while observing a minute of silence in memory of the chouhada of the National Liberation War (1954-1962).
As a prelude to this trip, Mr. Macron held, on Sunday morning, phone talks with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, again pleading for the realization of the “renewed and ambitious partnership” decided five weeks ago.
Elisabeth Borne will have lunch on Monday with President Tebboune, who signed with Mr. Macron on August 27 an “Algiers Declaration” around six areas of bilateral cooperation.
‘Economic cooperation’
Ms. Borne and her Algerian counterpart chaired a meeting of the High-Level Intergovernmental Committee (CIHN) on Sunday, the last edition of which dates back to 2017, where it was mainly a question of economic cooperation.
The meeting resulted in the signing of a dozen texts, ‘declarations of intent’ on employment, industrial cooperation, tourism and crafts, or disability, ‘partnership agreement’ in the agricultural field, ‘memorandum of understanding’ on start-ups.
The holding of the CIHN in itself “is already a step forward” in the political dialogue, according to Hasni Abidi, director of the Center for Studies and Research on the Arab and Mediterranean World (Cermam) in Geneva.
Speaking at the opening of this meeting, at the “Abdellatif Rahal” International Conference Center (CIC), the Prime Minister Mr. Aïmene Benabderrahmane highlighted the exceptional potential available to Algeria and France in various fields, calling on companies from both countries to focus on aspects related to the transfer of expertise, know-how and training.
He also stressed the efforts made by Algeria to bring together the necessary conditions and the appropriate environment to promote the establishment of a competitive and modern productive and industrial base through the improvement of the business climate and the promotion of national production.
“The new dynamic instilled in our relations, inspired by the Algiers Declaration, will make it possible to deepen consultation on topical issues, at the regional and international levels”, being the subject of a convergence of views between Algiers and Paris,” noted Mr. Benabderrahmane.
Referring to the issues enjoying Algeria and France converge, the Prime Minister cited those relating to the Euro-Mediterranean dialogue, the Libyan dossier, the situation in the Sahel, the fight against terrorism and the violent extremism.
In this regard, Mr. Benabderrahmane noted that the 5th session of the CINH “allows the two countries to establish a roadmap and an agenda for future meetings slated in 2030, decided by the presidents of the two countries, Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Emmanuel Macron within the framework of the Algiers Declaration”.
“The holding of this session takes place in a very favorable context for the consolidation of our bilateral relations”, particularly after the working and friendship visit made, last August, by the President of the French Republic at the invitation of the President Tebboune, a visit crowned by the signing of the Algiers Declaration for a renewed partnership which constitutes “a new reference and an additional link in the relations between Algeria and France”.
In this regard, the Prime Minister indicated that this Declaration defined “the areas and priorities of the Algerian-French bilateral relationship in all its aspects, namely human, cultural, scientific, historical, economic and social, in addition to paying particular attention to the youth of both countries”.
In this context, the Prime Minister expressed his conviction that this session would represent “a new stage in the process of building the exceptional partnership to which the countries aspire”, highlighting that the holding of the 5th session of the High-Level Intergovernmental Committee between the two countries after the obstacles and disruptions imposed by the health situation “testifies to the quality and regularity of exchanges between Algeria and France, and the political dialogue at the highest level in the two countries”.
The Prime Minister underlined that the quality of the political dialogue between the two countries made it possible to address the issue of common memory in a climate imbued with “serenity, clarity and mutual respect”, hoping that “the process of appeasement of common memory can move forward thanks to the commission of historians and our effective adherence to the settlement of other no less important issues, such as; the recovery of archives, compensation for victims of nuclear tests and the cleaning up of nuclear tests sites in the Algerian Sahara”.
It will also be a question of shedding light on the question of those who disappeared during the National Liberation War,” he added.
It will also be a question of shedding light on the question of those who disappeared during the National Liberation War,” he added.
As a reminder, this bilateral consultation mechanism, which was put in place on the occasion of the signing in Algiers, in December 2013, of the convention for the creation of the CIHN, is part of the regularity of exchanges of visits between the two countries and the common desire to build strong, diversified cooperation and an exceptional partnership.
No gas;
The visit of Mr. Macron, accompanied by the president of Engie Catherine MacGregor, had generated a lot of expectations on deliveries of Algerian gas to France, in the context of a scarcity of Russian gas in Europe.
This file “is not on the agenda” of the visit, according to Matignon. Ms. Borne told TSA that she would “nevertheless continue to develop our partnership in this sector with Algeria, particularly in terms of LNG, and to increase the efficiency of its gas production capacities”.
Ms. Borne only took one large group with her, Sanofi, which has an insulin factory project, and four SMEs: Générale Energie, which is considering the construction of a processing plant for olive pits, Infinite Orbits, which has a project for the first Algerian microsatellite, Neo-Eco, which works on the treatment of waste such as asbestos, and Avril, which specializes in cereal processing.
For its part, Business France, a public structure responsible for international investment, is taking several dozen companies to the Franco-Algerian Business Forum, which will be inaugurated, on Monday, by the two Prime Ministers.
Youth;
Another axis of the visit, the youth, whom Ms. Borne will meet on Monday, in particular at the French high school.
“If it is not a question of memory, or security, or our supplies, what will be the use of a trip of such magnitude? Asked Friday the deputy of the right-wing opposition (LR , The Republicans) Michèle Tabarot.
President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, paid, in August, a three-day official visit to Algeria, during which both presidents inked, on August 27th, 2022, “the Declaration of Algiers for a renewed partnership.”
The new declaration includes a set of understandings related to the memory file and the past of French colonialism of Algeria (1830 – 1962), and cooperation in the field of security, defense and the economy, including food.
“I think it is a success, it is a very successful visit which has put a lot of things back in the right place and which has enabled a rapprochement which wouldn’t have been possible without the personality of President Macron”, said President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
During Macron’s visit, Algeria and France signed 5 bilateral cooperation agreements in various fields, including the education, health and sports sectors. Besides, President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, the minister of National Defense, chaired with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, a meeting of the heads of security services in the two countries. In this coordination meeting, “the first of its kind at such a level since independence, the two sides exchanged views on security issues of common interest for the two countries.
Algerian-French relations witnessed unprecedented tensions after the provocative and irresponsible statements uttered by the Elysee Palace inmate Emmanuel Macron, who questioned the existence of an Algerian nation before the brutal French occupation of Algeria in 1830.
In his latest gaffe, France’s President Emmanuel Macron made critical remarks about Algeria, during a meeting with descendants of Harkis (people who fought with the French army against Algerian revolutionists).
Macron’s comments sparked anger among the Algerian officials and people. The Algerian Presidency of the Republic which announced that it had summoned Algeria’s ambassador to Paris, Mohamed Antar Daoud, for consultations, took a second decision to close Algerian airspace to the French military warplanes, in response to these irresponsible and provocative statements by the French President Emmanuel Macron.
President Tebboune dubbed French President Emmanuel Macron’s statements on Algeria “very dangerous.”
In his interview with the German weekly Der Spiegel, President Tebboune explained, “When a head of state declares that Algeria was not a nation in the fullest sense of the word, things become very dangerous,” stressing that it is not a personal problem (with Macron), but rather a national one.
Mr. Tebboune also stressed that “the history of a people should not be prejudiced and Algerians should not be offended,” describing Macron’s statements as “an old hatred.”
President Tebboune went to say that “President Macron has completely and in vain revived an old rivalry,” adding that “if the far-right journalist Eric Zemmour makes such statements, no one will pay any attention to him, but when a head of state declares that Algeria was not a nation in the truest sense of the word, then it becomes very dangerous.
President Tebboune highlighted that “Macron does not think like that,” considering that his statements have “electoral” motives, adding that “President Macron, through this statement, has sided with those who justify colonialism.”
Following these developments, the French President Emmanuel Macron seeked, multiple times, to reconnect with his Algerian counterpart, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. According to the French daily “L’Opinion”, the French President tried, in November, to talk to his Algerian counterpart , in particular to convince him to come to Paris for the Conference on Libya, held during that month. However, his efforts were in vain!
The French President, Emmanuel Macron regretted what he called “the misunderstandings from comments he made about Algeria, in an indication that Paris is trying to calm relations with the North African country.
A French presidential official stated before the holding, in Paris, of a conference on Libya, to which Mr. Tebboune had been invited, that Algiers was a key actor in the region and Macron wanted him to attend.
The official expressed, during a press brief devoted to the conference on Libya, Macron’s regrets after the comments he made:
“The president regrets the controversies and misunderstandings generated by the remarks reported and I will add that President Macron has the greatest respect for the Algerian nation, its history and the sovereignty of Algeria,” the official said.
“He is strongly attached to the development of our two countries bilaterally for the benefit of the Algerian and French populations, and also to meet the great regional challenge, starting with Libya.”
“President Macron has the greatest respect for the Algerian nation, for its history and for the sovereignty of Algeria,” said the Elysee, expressing France’s willingness to further enhance bilateral relationship for the benefit of the Algerian and French peoples and to cooperate with it to respond to major regional challenges, starting with Libya”.
“Algeria is a major player in the region and the president wishes the participation of President Tebboune in this conference”, according to the adviser.
Later, a high-ranking French delegation paid a visit to Algeria, following which the Algerian ambassador to Paris, Mohamed-Antar Daoud, resumed his duties in the French capital, and was received at the Elysée Palace and the Quai d’Orsay.
“Ambassador Mohamed-Antar Daoud was received successively, Thursday, January 13, 2022, by the Secretary General of the Elysée Palace, Mr. Alexis Kohler and the Director of North Africa and the Middle East, at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs Foreign (MEAE), Ms. Anne Gueguen”, specified the a press release from the Algerian embassy in France.
During these meetings, the French officials “welcomed the resumption of contacts between the two parties, while aspiring a new stage in relations between the two countries”.
