00:00France is making a fresh effort to mend relations with Algeria in what appears to be a significant diplomatic reset.
00:08After months of tensions, France Ambassador to Algeria Stéphane Romartette has now returned to Algiers after being recalled more than
00:16a year ago.
00:17His return comes alongside a visit by French Deputy Armed Forces Minister Alice Ruffo,
00:22who travelled to Satif for ceremonies marking the 1945 massacre of Algerians by French colonial troops.
00:30As an MPN chair of the France-Algerian Friendship Group, we came last year for the 8th May commemoration.
00:37This year, France is making a further step towards Algeria.
00:41Since we are accompanying the minister delegate for the armed forces to take part in these commemorations,
00:47it is extremely important for France to acknowledge this massacre.
00:51It is very important in the context of what we all want, namely closer relations between France and Algeria,
00:58A calming of these relations is a first step in the rebuilding of sound, strong relations between France and Algeria.
01:04The visit is highly symbolic.
01:06It signals Paris' willingness to confront painful chapters of the past while trying to reopen an effective political dialogue with
01:13Algeria.
01:13Relations between the two countries have been strained since 2024,
01:17particularly after France backed Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara,
01:21a position strongly opposed by Algeria.
01:24Additional tension also emerged over several sensitive legal and political cases involving French and Algeria nationals.
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