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Interview with Mr. Nicolas SARKOZY, President of the French Republic With the two Algerian news dailies El Watan and El Khabar

“My visit to Maghreban States falls within consultation endeavors with our partners in the Southern bank, especially those key countries including Algeria, the first step in may visit”, such has the French President Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy started his interview, the first of its kind given to the Maghreban press after his election as a President of the French Republic. The Algerian-French Friendship Treaty, the economic cooperation, and immigration issues were at the crux of the interview.

El Khabar: Mr. President, your are to be in Algeria within a Maghreban round, which round is to be the first outside the EU. In fact, what do you expect from this visit, as many raise Paris desire to re-establish its relations with Algeria? What does the tying up of distinguished relations with Algeria means to you whereas these relations seem lifeless in terms of politics especially after giving up in « the Friendship Treaty »?
On another side, you suggested the establishment of a Mediterranean Union, what is the culmination of such a gathering? Is it possible to talk about cooperation between the two banks of the Mediterranean while Europe looks like a castle, and do you think that the European neighborhood policy is up to be an alternative to the abortive Barcelona Process?


Nicolas Sarkozy: we can concretize friendship without a friendship treaty. The most important is to endow partnership between the two countries with a concrete framework perceptible by Algerians and French as well. To achieve such an aim, we have set an ambitious and realistic road map that covers all cooperation fields: executives training, economic exchanges and investments, energy, security and military cooperation, etc. We also have set a method to materialize the programme which includes a series of visit exchanges at the political and technical levels in order to mature all the set projects, in this spirit I proposed to President Bouteflika to visit France by this year’s end.
The bilateral relations and the Mediterranean Union project are prerequisites. The Mediterranean is our second solidarity space after Europe, and the two are overlap. Prosperity, stability, and security of the Mediterranean are interdependent. Our history, our cultural life, our respective societies are mutually immersed. Our common sea bears a major environmental stake as well. Together we can do well in order to develop our commercial, cultural and human exchanges, preventing crisis and better manage those already begun. This project architecture is a first attempt architecture, and my visit to Maghreb states falls within consultation endeavors with our partners in the Southern bank, especially those key countries including Algeria, the first step in may visit, and who is called, if she wants, to play an edifying role to make a success of this initiative. The think is not about to redo things, or to muddle up what has already been achieved, but to revive it and see what structures are the most likely to ensure the running of the initiative. So, President Bouteflika advice and experience would be very valuable.


El Khabar: In one of your statements you said « I want to get rid of repentance which is itself a sort of hatred and a competition of memories that fuel grudges against one another». Would this vision of things be an impediment to a genuine upgrading of relations with Algeria especially given the fact that the latter claims France to apologize for the crimes perpetrated along 132 years of colonialism?


Nicolas Sarkozy: the youngest generations in both sides look forward for the future instead of looking back to the past, they want concrete endeavors. They do not expect their leaders to mortify themselves for the past errors.
This means not to overshadow the past because each great nation has to accept its past both with the enlightened phases and the darkest ones. Sure much darkness, sufferings and injustices happened during the French presence in Algeria during the 132 years, but there has not been only this darkest side of things.
I am for the recognition of facts but not for repentance because it is a religious concept and there is no room for religion in a State-to-State relationship. Memory shall not be overshadowed, but within dignity and objectiveness, and without polemics and political maneuver attempts.

El Khabar: Are you satisfied about the economic relations between Algeria and France? During your election campaign you have also expressed your wish to further cooperation between Sonatrach and Gaz de France GdF, and you agreed about an Algerian and French cooperation in terms of civil nuclear, do you stick at the same stand?

Nicolas Sarkozy: Algeria is our first economic partner in the African continent, but the reality is far from reflecting it. Thus French enterprises have to redouble efforts and further engage in new partnership forms with their Algerian counterparts. Investments are included. In this respect, our companies can do better, sure. But this requires lifting constraints on investments, real estates, intellectual property protection and informal market competition.

As for energy, I had to underscore, even before my election, the importance of the issue in relations between the two countries. In fact, it is likely to structure the relationship and mirror the interdependence links between the two countries. We are complementary: France possesses the nuclear technology, Algeria thinks about the post-oil phase. In parallel, we need to secure our gas supplies and Algeria can acquire a French and even European market. Cooperation can thus be materialized not only between GdF and Sonatrach but also with Suez and TOTAL as well.


El Khabar: Is France ready to sell weapons to Algeria? What are the future outlines of military cooperation?

Nicolas Sarkozy: I would be very opened to an Algerian demand, as equally as with the any other neighboring state, since it would help reinforcing the regional security and stability which are a priority in my opinion.
As for the military cooperation with Algeria, I am ready to accompany it with efforts meant to endow its military forces with more professionalism and modernize them so as to be up to face up terrorism and smuggling stakes.

El Khabar: Concerning illegal migration, are you going to opt for a radical and a deterrent solution to solve this problem? What do you mean by « chosen immigration »?
Nicolas Sarkozy: we cannot pay no heed to illegal immigration. It is a reality that creates many problems in France. I committed myself to many pledges for the French people who elected me, for that reason I hope to find a human solution to that problem with close consultation with mother countries.
Regarding the chosen immigration, it concerns those who are to stay in France for a given period of time. Each sovereign state has the right to decide the criteria of selection.
Indeed, it is not meant to fuel « brain drain », however, the mother country has to provide the atmosphere that spur executives to come back homeland.

El Khabar: Many superpowers have shown great attention to intensify their relations with the Maghreb region. How does France see such future relations with this region without giving the impression to lord it over? And what is according to you the best solution to the Western Sahara conflict?

Nicolas Sarkozy: Concerning the first question, it would be hazardous to lord it over, our history in this region teaches us to deal with things with an extent of caution.
As for the Western Sahara, it is, in fact, high time to find out a sustainable solution as it undermines the relationship of Maghreban countries who can take up challenges they face up more easily whether the think is about their respective peoples aspirations or to counter terrorism endeavors.
http://www.elkhabar.com/FrEn/lire.php?ida=74621&idc=52
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http://www.elkhabar.com/FrEn/lire.php?idc=52&ida=74623