afrol News, 17 August - Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika yesterday held one-to-one talks with his French colleague, President Jacques Chirac, where could assure Mr Chirac that "old wounds are well healed." Despite ongoing conflict issues, predominantly over the future of Western Sahara, the two leaders agreed to deepen ties.

President Bouteflika was on an official visit to France to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Provence landings of troops from the then French colonies, which on 15 August 1944 opened up a new front against the Nazi empire. Algiers was the staging ground for the operation and the headquarters of de Gaulle's Free France. A large number of Algerians had participated in the 1944 military operation and many died at the front.

In relation to the ceremony in Toulon, southern France, President Bouteflika issued a statement, saying that "commemorations are here to revive old memories and to make sure that old wounds are well healed. A page has been turned and it is from these shares pains and common aspirations that we are seeking to build a more peaceful future in which our children will not have to face the threats our generation had to endure."

Algeria and France have generally have had a sour relationship after Algeria's bloody 1954-1962 war of independence, where more than one million people are believed to have lost their lives. President Bouteflika's reference to "healed wounds" therefore was of significance, especially when having in mind that his participation in Sunday's ceremonies was controversial among conservatives in France.

The Algerian President yesterday was honoured with an invitation to the official vacation retreat of the French Presidency at Fort de Bregancon. Here, a dinner was held in honour of President Bouteflika and the two state leaders had time for long one-to-one talks regarding bilateral relations.

This meeting shows the "strong, friendly and close relation between both Heads of State," the Algerian Presidency put forward in a statement. The two leaders had discussed manners of "reinforcing ties between France and Algeria", President Chirac's Paris offices confirmed in another statement.

As is usual for the French government, however, few details were given on how relations were to deepen and what the two state leaders had discussed.

It is however believed that the Western Sahara conflict, which strongly divides the two countries, was discussed at Fort de Bregancon. France supports the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara and is a firm ally of Algeria's foe, Morocco. Algeria, on the other hand, supports and houses the exiled government of the territory. Observers believe that only an improvement of French-Algerian ties can produce a solution to the age-old conflict.

Such an improved relation with Algiers has been high on President Chirac's agenda during the last year. The French President was the first Head of State to visit Algiers after Mr Bouteflika's controversial re-election in April and three French ministers visited the country in July. Important financial and military agreements worth an estimated euro 2 billion were reached.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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