French president: No 'repentance' for colonialism in Africa

[Amplify]

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy, visiting former colonies in North Africa on Tuesday, said France should recognize its colonial history but not repent for it.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy speaks at a news conference in Belgium before beginning a trip to Africa.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who has long demanded France apologize for colonial-era crimes, greeted Sarkozy at the airport in Algiers. Later Tuesday, Sarkozy planned to head to Tunisia. This was his first presidential trip outside Europe.

Sarkozy is pushing for closer French ties to Algeria's oil-and-gas giant Sonatrach, and pushing his project of a "Mediterranean Union" to boost cooperation on security and immigration among countries around the Mediterranean basin.

He also was expected to discuss joint efforts at fighting terrorism, as Algeria faces an upsurge in attacks by an al Qaeda affiliate that also has threatened to target France.

France's relations with Algeria -- the jewel in the colonial crown before it won independence in 1962 -- have remained tense since 2005, when Sarkozy's conservative party championed a law citing the positive effects of colonialism. The contentious language was later removed, but many former colonies remain bitter, and on a 2006 visit to Algeria as interior minister, Sarkozy received a cold welcome.

"I am for a recognition of facts, not for repentance, which is a religious notion and has no place in state-to-state relations," Sarkozy said in an interview with the Algerian newspapers El Watan and El Khabar published Tuesday.

"The younger generations, on both sides of the Mediterranean, ... are not expecting their leaders to torture themselves in battling their guilt for the errors or mistakes of the past, because on this account, there would be a lot to do on both sides," he was quoted as saying.

"That is not to say that we should cover up the past, since any grand nation ... should come to terms with its history, with its light and its dark sides.

"Certainly there were many dark sides, sufferings and injustices during the 132 years that France spent in Algeria, but there wasn't only this," he continued.

"The work of memory should continue," Sarkozy said in the interview. He said he would push for cooperation between the two nations' archives.

Sarkozy also told the newspapers he wanted a "connection" between France's energy giants Gaz de France, Suez and Total and Algeria's Sonatrach.

Sarkozy's government was expected to decide soon on whether to go ahead with a merger of state-owned GDF and Suez. Prime Minister Francois Fillon has said other options -- including a merger with other gas producers, notably Algerian ones -- are being considered.

Sarkozy said he wanted Algeria to play a "key role" in the proposed Mediterranean Union, which would cooperate on sustainable development, security, energy and controlling the flow of migrants. Sarkozy also has pushed the idea of "co-development," to keep potential migrants home with jobs in their own lands.

In Tunisia, Sarkozy could bring up human rights issues during talks with President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The small country, considered an example of progress and modernity in other spheres, is criticized by human rights organizations for its aggressive surveillance of citizens, allegedly torturing prisoners and muzzling the media.

Sarkozy has added a human rights deputy minister to his government, Rama Yade, who was expected to be part of his delegation.

Morocco, which raised its terror alert status Friday, fell off Sarkozy's agenda, with officials there citing a calendar conflict.

CNN Source

[Amplify]

Ha, I hmph'ed to myself as I read this. Though I find it to be perhaps a good thing to go through if this was to happen then Europe would have a lot of apologies to deliver many south and central american apologies, though I wouldn't care for their apologies, I'd ask for all the riches they raped from us via the spanish. The spanish are usually the focal point in history as they were the invaders but our riches, like the sugar extracted from Cuba, the many monocultures spread out through Brazil that basically left the land unfertile, their horrible crimes in Bolivia while exploiting mount Potosi from which they gathered unmeasurable riches of silver and many other exploited countries of today. One could even dare say the industrail revolution in England couldn't have been achieved with the crimes comitted in the past, Europe was already a tired land, ours still remain "young" and they used our resources to gain more development in all the areas. Spain was in debt with far too many european countries when they began the expidition and they all flourished from the spanish's crimes here. The europeans didn't even have tomatoes until they came here (how is this relevant? simple, the tomatoe is one of the most popular and used vegetables (vegetable by culinary terms) world wide along with corn which was also taken from native indians in central america. One can clearly see the use of tomatoes in now traditional cuisines like the french and italian and probably others that escape me). Let's see how well those nations would do if they were to return the modern equivalent of what they stole. I'm not pointing out to any persons, any race of a certain ethnic background, I'm pointing out to the cold, cruel governments and even some "royal" families that remain in their wealth and comfort with rivers of blood on their hands which they prefer to ignore as if history could possibly be erased by turning their heads.

[irefay]

whow, Amplify

Are you saying that countries other than the united states have made contravertial desisions also? (actualy I found your post extreemly insightful) Im just a little PO'd about being in Iraq, witessing progress but then watch as the news media makes everyone involved look like dog shit. Interesting fact though. Average number of days the media stays in country: 5 days. Almost enough time to let the jet lag wear off.

Take Care Amplify, keep those insightful comments coming

Irefay

[Amplify]

whow, Amplify

Are you saying that countries other than the united states have made contravertial desisions also? (actualy I found your post extreemly insightful) Im just a little PO'd about being in Iraq, witessing progress but then watch as the news media makes everyone involved look like dog shit. Interesting fact though. Average number of days the media stays in country: 5 days. Almost enough time to let the jet lag wear off.

Take Care Amplify, keep those insightful comments coming

Irefay

Yes, Irefay most european countries have their governments tainted with mass amounts of blood, especially in colonial times. Perhaps U.S has become the focal point of modern day because they have taken control unlike many years ago when the world leaders were England, France, Spain and other countries which elude me at the time. Horrible crimes were comitted, atrocities to mankind and they've done nothing to try and repair what the broke so severely. I wouldn't ask for repentence, I'd ask for responsiblity and admitting to what horrors they practiced here. I invite you to perhaps inquire more about world history, thought that's everyone's choice, there is a fine book called The Open Veins Of Latin America and it describes the whole process quite thoroughly, the author is Eduardo Galeano, it was originally in spanish but the have translated versions even in amazon.com. Also, assuming your residence is in the U.S perhaps, if you're not interested in our history you could read a book on your country's history, though I don't know the title I know the author is Howard Zinn, I know he's written a lot of books though so you'd have to do some research as to which speaks about your history particularly. I only know of him through a friend who lives in the U.S so I can't be too specific, sorry. I guess the saying, quote, applies "Behind every great wealth, there is a great crime" Europe may not me on top of the world now, but they are certainly not poor countries. A lot of african countries are still unfortunately under the rule of colonial families, white europeans that came and took everything, though it's still no justification for their poverty considering some of the kings in Africa still robbing from their fellow countrymen, in anycase, until now I've still believed profoundly in a quote by Thomas Hobbes "Homo homini lupus" which translates to "Man is a wolf to man" but at least we can make an effort to set some things straight though I doubt we will ever escape having to choose the lesser of evils presented to us as governers of our countries, the one that looks "less evil" who will do "less harm" but we do harm nonetheless.

Also, yes other countries still make odd (or injust depending on your perception) decisions which is why I tried to look for something other than Iraq, though we still should be attentive to the news of Iraq, other things are happening around the world and this is, afterall, the "International News" forum, we need more diversity.