The French Ambassador in Algeria: “May 8, 1945, a heinous carnages”

The Ambassador of France to Algeria, Bernard Bajolet said the time of disavowing recognition of crimes has gone forever "the heavy responsibility of French authorities" in the carnages of May 8th, 1945.

This is the first time a responsible french describes as "carnages" repression by the French authorities manifestations of Algerians for independence. The Ambassador of France took his remarks yesterday in front of Guelma, in front of students university of 8 May 45.

There had been in 2005 at Setif, Ambassador Hubert Colin de Verdière had described the repression of demonstrations on 8 May 1945 "inexcusable tragedy." And then, last December, President Nicolas Sarkozy, the University of Constantine, had raised him, "misconduct and crimes of the past" french colonial Algeria, crimes qualified "unforgivable".

And always about the carnages of May 8, 45, France’s ambassador to Algeria, Bernard Bajolet, admits today, "very heavy responsibility of French authorities at the time."

Step by step, slowly but surely, the State french door a new look at its colonial history, a more objective light. This new perception can be summed up in this sentence of France’s ambassador, Bernard Bajolet, delivered yesterday in Guelma: "time of denial is over."

It remains to be seen how significant this breakthrough by anyone here, demanding, with insistence, an official apology for a stronger impetus is given to bilateral relations.