No doubt, it is not an enjoyable situation. Especially French Parliament made a decision in 2001 concerning Armenians and claimed that 1915 incidents constitute genocide despite sharp reactions of Turkey.
Barnier told Algeria to make a common effort to search history "in order to establish a common future and overcome the sad pages". Giving interview to El Vatan, an Algerian newspaper, Barnier said that "Historians from two sides must be encouraged to work together. They must work on the common past". For Barnier, this case, of course, is a method that can only be applied for Algerians!
Perhaps Barnier does not know Algerian genocide as good as Armenian issue! Otherwise he would have immediately passed a genocide act from France Parliament. Perhaps if his interest area in France was French voters in Algerian origin he would have done this...
In 8 May 1945, France army had organized air and land attacks to northern Algeria, mainly to Setif and Guelma cities in order to repress popular demonstrations against France there. While Algerian government claimed that around 45.000 Algerians were killed in the repression which continued for few days, French politicians argued that the number of people who were killed is around 20.000. While French politicians remained in silence against allegations since 1962 in which Algeria gained independence, the first statement towards the recognition of massacres comes this year from French Ambassador in Algeria. Ambassador Hubert Colin de Verdiere visited to Setif on February in order to commemorate those who were killed in massacres and said that Setif massacre is an "unforgiving tragedy". The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Barnier reminded that Ambassador's statement is the French observation and this demonstrated that France has given importance to "memory workings" in relations with Algeria which is a brother country.
Addressing to nation in Setif in commemoration ceremonies of 60'th anniversary of massacres, Algerian President Abdülaziz Buteflika said that Algerian people expects from France to take more concrete steps rather than made these remarks. In his statement Buteflika reminded that while Europeans celebrated the victory against Nazi Germany in 8 May 1945, French killed Algerians who went to street for the independence. "Courageous Algerian soldiers faced with French fire when they returned to Algeria from European and African fronts in which they defended the interest and honor of France" he said.
While in Algeria it was organized the commemoration ceremonies in weekend, Algerians who live in France also rallied in Paris. Bertrand Delanoe, Paris Mayor said that 8 May is "an anniversary of another barbarism" and that he hoped that France undertakes its responsibility.
Didier Billion, Deputy President of Paris-based The Institute for Strategic and International Relations pointed out that none of French Presidents made an official apology for incidents in Algeria so far. He referred to French silence against allegations and said that "Algeria is our taboo".
Another issue against which French government remained in silence is Rwanda genocide in which more than 800 thousand people were killed. France has not accepted the claims that French soldiers in the region had responsibility in genocide committed in Rwanda in 1994. Finally, in last month an ex-French military officer who was formerly in Rwanda admitted that French soldiers had provided military training to civil militants of Hutus who are accused to commit genocide. Thierry Prungnaud, former Deputy Commander of National Gendarmerie Intervention Group who was in the region to provide military training the guards of Rwanda Presidency in 1992 said in France-Culture, an official radio that he saw French soldiers giving fire-arms training civil Rwandan militiamen in 1992 and this training had continued until 1994.
On the other hand in February, six Rwandans citizens applied to Paris Military Court on the ground that French soldiers are ""accomplice" in genocide committed in 1994. It is reported that it will take a long time for the Military Court which is the only judicial body to have jurisdiction right to judge French soldiers on duty to deal with the file.
Meanwhile Amar Bakhouche, the speaker of the Algerian Senate said in AB Haber.com that France insisted not to apologize for Algerians who were killed in 8 May 1945, “France firstly must clean in front of his own house. Armenian genocide allegations have claimed against Turkey as an excuse. A Muslim population is not wanted in the EU". "These things committed by Frances are called "genocide", but they have been tried to be described in another manner in France" he said.
Saying that "1.5 million Algerians were killed by colonists in the years in which Algeria struggled for independence", Amar Bakhouche pointed out that, France has not apologized to Algeria despite all efforts
