The “FLN” party called France to "apologize" to Algeria
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ALGIERS - The Secretary General of the National Liberation Front (FLN - in power) and State Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem, called Friday in Algiers the French government to apologize to Algeria for "crimes" of colonization.
- "We demand from France the official recognition of its colonial crimes committed in Algeria and apologize to the Algerian people," said Belkhadem, in a speech opening the 9th congress of his party.
The head of the FLN has stressed in his speech "the importance of this repentance," recalling "the hard struggle of the Algerian people to put an end to colonialism.
During a visit to Algeria in December 2007, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has strongly condemned the colonial system "inherently unfair". But he rejected any idea of "repentance", seeing it as a form of "self-hatred" and "denigration" of his country.
According to Belkhadem, this conference is "another step in the process of consolidation of the characteristics of the party, which includes both the political adaptation and the future vision whose foundations find their essence in the historical referents of 1 November 1954" beginning of the war.
The cease-fire was declared March 19, 1962.
In a message read on his behalf by the Secretary General of the Presidency, Habba El Okbi, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said that the FLN "was called to be open to future generations to preserve its place among the most active forces on the national scene.
Mr. Bouteflika, honorary chairman of this party since the 8th Congress in January 2005, also praised the role of the FLN who "fought the great battle that led Algeria forever out of the colonial dark night".
Former single party, the FLN, who led the war of independence against France (1954-1962), is part of the ruling coalition along with the National Democratic Rally (RND, Liberal) and the Movement for the Society of Peace (MSP, Islamist).
The conference, which runs until Sunday, brings together some 5,000 delegates representing 48 wilaya (Provinces) of the country and the diaspora.
Ennaharonline/ M. O.
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