its president France, Emmanuel Macronannounced tonight from Algiers the formation of a joint commission of Algerian and French historians who will study the records of colonialism and the war in Algeria.

“We share a common past” which is “complicated, painful” and “we decided together” to create this commission of historians “to look together at this historical period (…) from the beginning of colonialism to the war of liberation, without taboo”, the French president said, promising that committee members would have “full access to the files.”

Algerian President Abdelmajid Teboun, for his part, spoke of “encouraging results” on the first day of his French counterpart’s visit to Algeria.

Speaking to reporters, Tebun stressed that both sides are determined to “move forward” and “intensify efforts to strengthen relations between the two countries”, saying that several intergovernmental commissions will resume their work.

“We hope that (Macron’s) visit will open up new prospects for partnership and cooperation with France,” he said in joint statements from the two leaders.

^{Source: APE-MEB, AFP.}