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Sarkozy tells Algeria: No apology for the past
 French President Nicolas Sarkozy, due to start a one day visit to Algeria on Tuesday, defended his refusal to apologise for colonial misdeeds saying leaders should focus on the future and not beat their breasts. Algeria, Frances largest trading partner in Africa but also its touchiest former overseas possession, has long demanded that France apologise for killings during 132 years of colonial rule which ended with independence in 1962 after an eight year war. Sarkozy, reiterating a long-held position, told Algerias El Watan and El Khabar newspapers: Young people on either side of the Mediterranean are looking to the future more than the past and what they want are concrete things. Theyre not waiting for their leaders to simply drop everything and start mortifying themselves, or to beat their breasts, over the mistakes of the past because, in that case, thered be lots to do on both sides. Sarkozy is due to arrive at about 1000 GMT on his first visit outside Europe since his election to the presidency in May. The Maghreb, a zone of French commercial influence, is traditionally the first destination outside Europe for newly elected French presidents. Posted by: Fred 2007-07-11 |
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