The Aftershocks of France’s Colonial Supremacy is Empowered by its Current Hubris

The Aftershocks of France’s Colonial Supremacy is Empowered by its Current Hubris

    Friday, February 03, 2023   No comments

 France continues to refuse to accept responsibility over its crimes of colonialism in Algeria, refuse to pay reparations for the harm it caused to Algerian families, and refuse to pay for the cleanup of its nuclear waste in the Algerian Sahara that is still causing harm to people and the environment. Yet, French leaders continue to lecture Muslim-majority countries about human rights and insist that they do not have access to nuclear technology, be it peaceful or otherwise. Historical records, however, show how France’s actions have created many of the most perennial problems that it now wants other countries to solve. Among these actions taken by French leaders is how their determination to hold on to Algeria allowed them to help other colonizers develop weapons of mass destruction and shield them from any criticism and safety measures, such as the monitoring of nuclear facilities by UN institutions, while they continue to accuse Muslim-majority countries of being irresponsible with their developing of nuclear programs.

 Here is a good place to start reading about this and related topics:

Specifically, during the mid-1950s France’s control over Algeria—which it considered part of France and not just another colony—was increasingly contested by a domestic insurgency that was receiving substantial support from the Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser. Paris responded by eliciting Israel’s help in providing intelligence on the Algerian situation in return for French conventional weaponry. The opportunity to transform this into nuclear cooperation presented itself in 1956 when Paris asked Israel to provide France and Britain with a pretext to intervene militarily in what became the Suez Canal crisis.   

-- From The Story of How American Jews and France Built Israel’s Nuclear Weapons

 

Iran: Paris must observe the basic principles of international relations, such as respect, non-interference, and respect for the national and religious sanctities of others

Iran: Paris must observe the basic principles of international relations, such as respect, non-interference, and respect for the national and religious sanctities of others

    Sunday, January 08, 2023   No comments

Paris must observe the basic principles of international relations, such as respect, non-interference, and respect for the national and religious sanctities of others

The Iranian embassy in Paris responded to the recent abuse of the French newspaper "Charlie Hebdo". Stressing that this behavior contradicts the standards and controls of international law, and contradicts the principle of freedom of expression, and constitutes a violation of the sanctity of personalities and peoples, launching a campaign to spread lies, disgraceful expressions and hate speech, and is a clear example of the violation of human rights.

The embassy added, in a statement, that this measure indicates the selective and deceitful attitude in using the principle of freedom of expression, which this newspaper, which is proud of its disgraceful behavior and its hostility to religion and religious values, has been using since ancient times to justify its disgraceful behavior and its obscene expressions against peoples, their beliefs and sanctities.

The statement stressed that Charlie Hebdo, which falsely claims to defend women's rights, and by publishing very obscene and disgraceful pictures in its latest issue, as it committed the most heinous abuses against women, revealed its truth based on the use of women as a tool.

In its statement, the Iranian embassy also called on the concerned French authorities to take the necessary measures, as a matter of urgency, to prevent this newspaper from continuing its abuses and to stop spreading lies and hatred resulting from it, as this will definitely lead to bad and destructive results in terms of relations between the two peoples and the two countries.

Last month, the French magazine "Charlie Hebdo" launched an international competition for the best cartoon of the Iranian guide, with the aim of mocking him, saying, "We wanted to support the struggle of Iranians for their freedom by ridiculing this religious leader and returning him to the dustbin of history."

The magazine announced that it had received more than 300 cartoons and published a large group of them. As a result, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it had summoned the French ambassador to Tehran, against the background of the publication of “Charlie Hebdo” cartoons insulting to the Iranian leadership.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said: “The Islamic Republic of Iran does not accept insulting its Islamic and religious sanctities and national values in any way, and France has no right to justify insulting the sanctities of other Islamic countries and peoples under the pretext of freedom of expression.”

Kanani referred to “the black record of the French magazine in attacking the Prophet of Islam, the Holy Qur’an, and the religion of Islam,” stressing that “this hateful, insulting, and unjustified act is borne by the French government.”

Macron reaffirms his position on giving Russia security “guarantees” in the event of peace negotiations at the end of the war in Ukraine

Macron reaffirms his position on giving Russia security “guarantees” in the event of peace negotiations at the end of the war in Ukraine

    Tuesday, December 20, 2022   No comments

 French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday stuck to his position on giving Russia security "guarantees" if peace negotiations take place at the end of the war in Ukraine.

Some leaders of Eastern European countries criticized Macron more than once, considering that he had exaggerated expectations from Moscow regarding a future settlement of the conflict.

Macron said in an interview recorded on Monday and broadcast on Tuesday evening on the French “TF1” and “LCE” stations, that “Peace Day requires talks. First of all about guarantees to Ukraine, its territorial integrity and long-term security. But also to Russia, given that it will be a party to an armistice and peace treaty.

And the French president added, “Whoever blames me for thinking about such an issue, let him explain to me what he proposes.”

And Macron warned that “what those who refuse to prepare for this matter and work on it are proposing is an all-out war that will include the entire continent,” stressing his rejection of this option.

In early December, Macron faced criticism from Ukraine and some Eastern European countries, as some voices accused him of being overly open to Moscow.

"Is there anyone who wants to provide security guarantees for a terrorist and murderous state?" Secretary General of the National Security Council of Ukraine Oleksiych Danilov said on Twitter.

The French president was also subjected to implicit criticism from the European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell.

Borrell said at the time that the way out of the Ukrainian conflict is by providing “security guarantees to Ukraine,” adding that “with regard to Russia, we will talk about it later.”

However, the French President confirmed in his television interview that his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, never expressed to him his annoyance or the annoyance of his ministers about his statements, and added, “No one party concludes a peace treaty on its own,” and “lasting peace includes the sitting of the concerned parties, and therefore Russia, around the table.”

Macron did not elaborate while on a visit to the Middle East. Today, he is  in Jordan, in connection with the events of the second session of the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership kicks off, at the invitation of the Jordanian King Abdullah II, and in coordination with French President Emmanuel Macron and Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shayaa Al-Sudani, and in their presence.

The French presidency said, "The aim of such a meeting is to bring Iraq's neighbors and partners around the table, in an attempt to move forward by promoting dialogue."

The conference aims, according to the Elysee Palace, to "provide support for Iraq's stability, security and prosperity, and to study the situation in the entire region, given that Iraq is a pivotal country in it."

The meeting is also likely to address common issues, such as climate warming, food security and regional energy cooperation.

On the agenda of Macron, who visited on Monday the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle off the coast of Egypt to celebrate Christmas with the French forces, a meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan; "An ally in the fight against terrorism," according to Paris.

French Police Violently Disperse Celebrating Morocco's Win Over Portugal

French Police Violently Disperse Celebrating Morocco's Win Over Portugal

    Saturday, December 10, 2022   No comments

The European handling of and reactions to a worldcup hosted by the first Arab and first Muslim country continues; now they are reacting the historic milestone set by an Arab and African nation.

French police violently disperse celebrating Morocco’s win over Portugal:

Skulls were returned from France to Algeria do not all belong to the resistance fighters

Skulls were returned from France to Algeria do not all belong to the resistance fighters

    Tuesday, October 18, 2022   No comments

The New York Times reported, on Monday, that the skulls that Algeria recovered from France in 2020 do not all belong to the resistance fighters, and that these remains all remained French property even after they were handed over.

Documents from the Museum of Man and the French government, obtained by the American newspaper, revealed that 18 skulls were of uncertain origin, among the 24 skulls recovered by Algeria.

These skulls were returned under an agreement signed by the two governments on June 26, 2020, which included a 4-page appendix detailing the identities of the remains, according to Al-Hurra.

The document obtained by the "New York Times" showed that among the remains recovered by Algeria were imprisoned thieves, and three Algerian infantrymen who served in the French army.

Neither government has publicly acknowledged these facts as they seek to extract a "diplomatic advantage" from the recall, according to the New York Times.

And in July of 2020, the Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, received a C-130 Hercules plane coming from France, carrying the remains of 24 Algerian fighters against French colonialism on board.

The plane landed at Algiers International Airport, after being escorted by fighters from the Algerian army, where the coffins received an official reception. They drew the Algerian national flag and were carried by soldiers from the guard of honor with 21 artillery rounds.

The American newspaper says that the process of France's return of these remains, which were on display in the Museum of Humanity, was accepted by Algeria, where the two countries celebrated the gesture as a milestone in their efforts to rebuild relations.

The Algerian government did not respond to The New York Times' requests for comment, and it remains unclear why it accepted some skulls that did not belong to popular resistance fighters, especially as it was highly critical of aspects of French President Emmanuel Macron's policy towards the country, at least until Snow melt in recent years.

Macron's office also declined to comment, redirecting questions to the Foreign Ministry, which said the list of the skulls returned was "approved by both parties."

Upon the handover in 2020, the French presidency stated that "this gesture is part of a process of friendship and healing of all wounds throughout our history."

She added, "This is the meaning of the work that the President of the Republic started with Algeria, which will continue with the respect of all in order to reconcile the memories of the French and Algerian peoples."

During a visit to Algeria in December 2017, President Macron pledged to return the Algerian human remains, which are in the Museum of Man of the National Museum of Natural History.

The American newspaper described the process as a "flawed return", which revealed a broader problem than returns, which are often "secret and muddled" and do not rise to the level of correcting the mistakes of the colonial era.

"Diplomatic issues prevailed over historical issues," said Catherine Maureen Desailly, the center-right French senator who has long worked to return mortal remains.

Tens of thousands protest in Paris against Macron, and Melenchon calls for a general strike

Tens of thousands protest in Paris against Macron, and Melenchon calls for a general strike

    Sunday, October 16, 2022   No comments

Today, Sunday, a demonstration of the left and environmentalists began in the French capital, Paris, to protest against the high cost of living, and against the economic plans of the government of French President Emmanuel Macron.

During his participation in the event, the leader of the Left Alliance, Jean-Luc Melenchon, explained that "there is a kind of popular front taking shape at the present moment."

Mélenchon added: "We will have an extraordinary week, and we must all think about how we will help each other," stressing that "France is living in chaos not because of you, but because of them."

He stressed that "national unity is the solution to the crisis," adding that "popular unity can become a popular front."

Melenchon called on the demonstrators to participate widely in the demonstration next Tuesday, addressing them by saying: "Do not leave your place in the battle for others, do not surrender and prevent the theft of your wealth."

Related to this, French media reported that "Melenchon called for a general strike."

Jean-Luc Melenchon, the leader of the left-wing "France Proud" party, planned the rally long before the current strikes began, but organizers hope the current labor movements will give their demonstration more momentum.

"The rise in prices is unbearable...it is the biggest decline in purchasing power in 40 years," said Manon Aubry, an MP for the "France Proud" party.

It is noteworthy that the Left Alliance turned into the first opposition force, and the strongest in the French Parliament, after winning 149 seats, compared to Macron's camp, which won 244 seats in the French legislative elections last June.

Macron: Dialogue with Russia must continue; Iran: Iran: A senior European president asked Iran's president, Raisi, to mediate in the Ukrainian crisis

Macron: Dialogue with Russia must continue; Iran: Iran: A senior European president asked Iran's president, Raisi, to mediate in the Ukrainian crisis

    Thursday, September 01, 2022   No comments

 Macron: Dialogue with Russia must continue

French President Emmanuel Macron called today for the continuation of dialogue with Russia, stressing that "we must assume that we can always continue talking with everyone", especially "with whom we do not agree."

"Who wants Turkey to be the only power in the world that continues to talk to Russia?" Macron asked in front of the French ambassadors meeting at the Elysee Palace.

He continued, "We should not give in to any form of wrong morale that may make us helpless," stressing that "the diplomat's profession is to talk to everyone, especially people with whom we do not agree."

He added, "We will continue to do this ... in coordination with our allies," recalling that "the division of Europe" is "one of the objectives of Russia's war."

The French president is one of the few European leaders who spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russia's military operation in Ukraine on February 24, in a strategy that has been criticized.

The last phone call between the French president and his Russian counterpart dates back to August 19, during which they discussed the situation at the Zaporizhia nuclear plant and the organization of a visit by a team from the International Atomic Energy Agency to the facility.

For his part, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan played the role of mediator between Moscow and Kiev at the beginning of the war. An agreement was reached between Moscow and Kiev in July in Istanbul, under the auspices of Ankara and the United Nations, to export Ukrainian grain from the ports bordering the Black Sea.

Iran: A senior European president asked Iran's president, Raisi, to mediate in the Ukrainian crisis

The Iranian President's Assistant for Political Affairs, Mohammad Jamshidi, revealed that "one of the senior presidents of Western Europe asked Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to help mediate a solution to the war crisis in Europe."

And he said in a tweet on Twitter, "After assessing the matter, an initiative was developed that the Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, would bring to Moscow with an important message."

For its part, the Iranian news agency ISNA revealed that "the Western president who asked Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi to mediate a solution to the war crisis in Europe is French President Emmanuel Macron."

It is noteworthy that Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian is visiting Moscow today to hold consultations with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.

Before leaving Iran, Amir Abdollahian said, "Western parties want Iran to play an active role in resolving the Ukrainian crisis."

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune meeting with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune meeting with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron

    Sunday, August 28, 2022   No comments

 

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced that he had agreed with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, to "establish a full partnership between their two countries in the light of mutual respect."

During a joint press conference with Macron, who arrived in Algeria today for a 3-day official visit, Tebboune said: "I agreed with Macron to establish a full partnership in light of the principles of respect and a balance of trust between the two countries... We aspire to enhance trade exchange between Algeria and France."

"I discussed with Macron the situation in Libya, Mali, the Sahel and Western Sahara," he added.

For his part, Macron told his Algerian counterpart: "We have a common, complex and painful past, which contributed somewhat to not looking at the future... We have to look at this past with the will of truth... Let's open the archives from the beginning of the (French) occupation to independence without taboos... And this in order to build the future.

The French president considered that "we did not choose the past, but rather we inherited it, and we have the responsibility to build the future for ourselves and for future generations."

French President Macron arrived in Algeria today, Thursday, "hoping to build trade relations and turn the page on a diplomatic dispute," and was received by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

Relations with Algeria became more important for France, because the Russian special military operation in Ukraine led to an increase in Europe's demand for North African gas, and because of the increased migration across the Mediterranean.

 It is noteworthy that Algeria canceled, today also, the entry visa of the chief rabbi of France, "Haim Corsia" because of his support for "Israel", according to what a reliable source told "Al-Mayadeen", who stressed that "Algeria will not be drawn towards normalization and rejects it in all its forms, and it is firm on the Supporting just causes, most notably Palestine and Western Sahara.

Last July, Tebboune sent a congratulatory message to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, on the occasion of his re-election for a second presidential term, in which he expressed his "satisfaction with the quality of our personal relationship characterized by trust and affection, and with the developments achieved, albeit relatively, by the Algerian-French partnership."

In it, Macron called for a visit to Algeria "soon, to launch together a dynamic that pushes forward in dealing with major issues, and to intensify and expand Algerian-French relations."

Last March, the Algerian president declared that the "crimes of French colonialism" in Algeria will not be subject to a statute of limitations, calling for a "fair treatment of the file of memory and history in an atmosphere of frankness and trust."

This came after relations between the two countries fell to their lowest level, when Macron said he doubted the existence of an "Algerian nation" before French colonialism.

Macron: Peace will not be achieved in Ukraine by humiliating Russia

Macron: Peace will not be achieved in Ukraine by humiliating Russia

    Monday, May 09, 2022   No comments

The French president stresses that "the European Union is not at war with the Russian side," and stresses that "peace cannot be achieved in Ukraine through the humiliation of Russia."

"The European Union is not at war with Russia," French President Emmanuel Macron said in a speech to the European Parliament in the French city of Strasbourg, on the occasion of Europe's Day.

Macron added during his speech that "the process of Ukraine's admission to the European Union may take years or decades."

He also noted that "the Europeans are working to preserve Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity for the return of peace," saying that "it is up to Ukraine alone to determine the terms of negotiations with the Russian side."

"Peace cannot be achieved in Ukraine by humiliating Russia," Macron said.

"The goal, in the face of Russia's unilateral decision to attack the Ukrainian people, is to end this war as quickly as possible and do everything so that Ukraine can regain control of it," he stressed.

A few days ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin had a phone call with Macron, in which he referred to "the European Union's disregard for the war crimes committed by the Ukrainian forces," while Macron expressed to Putin his "concern about the problem of ensuring global food security, which is the cause of Western sanctions."

Macron also pledged, earlier, during a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, to strengthen military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, in light of the continuation of the Russian military operation in Ukraine.

The many ways Ukraine war exposed Western racism and double standard: Paris to Russia: the satirical cartoon is “Unacceptable”

The many ways Ukraine war exposed Western racism and double standard: Paris to Russia: the satirical cartoon is “Unacceptable”

    Friday, March 25, 2022   No comments

 You simply can't make this stuff up!

Today, Friday, Paris summoned the Russian ambassador to the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after he posted on his Twitter account cartoons that French diplomacy considered "unacceptable".

  

"We are striving to maintain a necessary channel of dialogue with Russia, but this behavior is totally inappropriate," the French Foreign Ministry said, referring in particular to a cartoon showing Europeans kneeling in front of Uncle Sam, who symbolizes the United States.

  

It should be noted that, France supported and defended the publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist as protected form of freedom of speech even if they offend Muslims.

 

The Russian Embassy confirmed that “the question of the published tweet had been raised, among other points” during the interview on Friday morning. The Russian ambassador has on his side “draw the attention of our French colleagues to the provocations and acts of vandalism against Russian diplomatic representations in France” she added.

Updated story (3/29/2022): 

Limits of Freedom of Speech in Europe: German states to ban "Z" symbolizing support for Russia's war.

Apparently, publishing cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad in offensive ways to millions of Muslims is an absolute right; but taking a position on an a war in Europe is not freedom of speech.

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