ALGIERS, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Saturday said that bilateral relations with France are likely to become an example to follow in the region.
He made the remarks in the message to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, congratulated the France's National Day on July 14th and expressed his commitment to reach an exceptional partnership to the extent of the expectations and ambitions of the two countries.
Algiers and Paris have failed to normalize their long-standing bilateral relations, as the two nations are still unable to overcome their common "painful" past, which includes a 132 year-long French colonialism in the North Africa nation.
In Algeria, it is understood that the bilateral relations with France could reach normalization, only when Paris recognizes the crimes committed during its colonial era, and offer apology to the victims of that "brutal" colonialism rule.
However, Paris is still considering colonialism a bright era which "brought civilization" to other people, while recognizing that "some atrocities were committed," but without apologizing for them.
