N. V. BORODKINA

Candidate of Historical Sciences

Yaroslavl State Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushinsky

France Keywords:, Algeria, politics, Islam-immigration, economic cooperation

Franco-Algerian relations for many decades resemble contacts between former spouses, who are " close together, but bored apart."

French policy in Algeria has a rich history, although this fact does not protect France from numerous Algerian "surprises". Many researchers of Algerian politics in France have noted that it is built under the influence of a number of factors that can be divided into three groups: socio-cultural, economic and political. All the presidents of the Fifth Republic (since 1958), when plotting the Algerian political trajectory, had to take these factors into account.

It should be noted that the policy of Paris in Algeria has been studied in sufficient detail, but experts almost did not pay attention to the relationship between the statements of French politicians and real actions, i.e., to what extent the French political rhetoric really reflects the intentions of the country's leadership towards Algeria.

SHAPING FRANCE'S ALGERIAN POLICY

The exact number of Algerians living in France is difficult to determine due to the imperfection of "ethnic statistics". However, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Research, 711,000 people lived in France in 1975. Algerians, more than half of whom had mixed citizenship, in 2008 - 1.5 million. From 1975 to 2010, the number of Algerians in this European country increased by 28%, and in 2010 alone, 22 thousand immigrants from Algeria received French citizenship. Arab-African immigrants tend to settle compactly, which leads to the formation of "ethnic ghettos" in which " the standard of living is noticeably lower than average, and unemployment, drug addiction, and crime, respectively, are much higher."¹. In particular, the "Arab" districts were the 17th, 19th and 20th arrondissements of Paris and the "Port d'Aix is located in Marseille.

There are several basic documents regulating French immigration policy, including the Immigration Act of 19 October 1945 and the Code of Nationalities (Persons Entitled to preferential procedures for obtaining French Citizenship). These documents were amended and supplemented in 1973, 1984 and 1993. In 1976, the French Government also adopted measures aimed at reuniting the families of displaced persons, i.e. numerous relatives of immigrants were able to move almost freely to permanent residence in France.

The adoption of such laws was dictated not by France's desire to help its former citizens, but by the need for additional labor. However, this European power has significantly changed its immigration policy since the late 1970s.

The process of their adaptation and integration into French society is directly related to the immigration of Algerians to France. The integration of Arabs was more difficult and less effective than the same process for Italian, Spanish or Polish immigrants. President Giscard d'Estaing (1974-1981)referred to Arab immigration as a Muslim "invasion" of Europe. ² By the beginning of the XXI century, there were about ² thousand Muslim organizations and associations operating in France, the most active of which were the National Federation of Muslims of France and the Union of Muslim Organizations3.

Of course, Islam in Europe is not homogeneous and is subject to change. Over the past two decades, according to French researcher Olivier Roy, " ... is-

* Until 1962, Algerians were French citizens and could move freely in France.

Lam was transformed under the influence of secularism and secularization"⁴, but despite this, it remains a fundamental basis for cultural identification of people from the Maghreb.

THE ECONOMIC FACTOR OF POLITICS

Economic relations between the two countries have a long history, characterized by ups and downs. France regards Algeria as its traditional economic partner and is jealous of the emergence of any competitors in the Algerian economic space.

French exports to Algeria ($5.7 billion) in 2011) exceeded the export volumes of its products to other Maghreb countries. In particular, the director of Solic Group of Companies, speaking positively about the Algerian market, said:"...This is a country with huge potential, and not only in the field of hydrocarbon production"⁵. Franco-Algerian business cooperation is most intensively developing in the food industry, oil refining and oil production, automotive industry, and the pharmaceutical industry. Thus, the French company Renault is steadily increasing the volume of annual sales of its products in the Algerian market: in 2011, about 80 thousand cars were sold there (in total, about 281 thousand new cars were sold in Algeria in 2011).⁶. Another French company, Peugeot, ranks 3rd (after the South Korean Hyundai) in sales in the Algerian market (28 thousand cars in 2011) ⁷.

JACQUES CHIRAC'S POLITICS IN ALGERIA

The year 2003 marked a turning point in French policy in the Middle East in general, and in Algeria in particular.

France allowed itself to disagree with the political decision of the United States regarding Iraq, including with the violation by the United States of UN Security Council Resolution No. 1441*.

In early March 2003, President Jacques Chirac visited Algeria , the first official visit by a French head of State since Algeria's independence in 1962.The Algerian side had high hopes for this meeting. In turn, Chirac, in his speech to the Algerian parliamentarians, pointed out France's interest in intensifying relations with the North African country.

Chirac began his speech with a historical retrospective of Franco-Algerian relations: "The histories of our countries have been linked for 132 years. That is why I want this place to honor and pay tribute to all the Algerians who fought in the wars of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945, sacrificing their lives for the defense and final victory of France, the Allies and the free world. " ⁸

Thus, the French President outlined the purpose of his visit: the resumption and deepening of contacts between the two countries. In his speech, he paid special attention to cultural and economic relations, noting, in particular, that " the Arabic language is integrated into the curriculum of our schools... Your writers are among the most talented Francophone writers. Your drama often appears on the French stage." He also pointed out that "France is Algeria's first economic partner... Algeria has significant economic opportunities. They are especially active in the hydrocarbon sector." According to President Zh. According to Chirac, the bilateral relations were supposed to develop mainly in two directions: infrastructure development and provision of private investment.⁹

Meanwhile, the Algerian side expected some easing in its migration policy from France. Algerians who met Chirac chanted: "Visas! Visas!" In response, the Frenchman-

* Resolution 1441 on Iraq excluded the use of force against that country and left the final decision to the UN Security Council.

The Algerian President promised that the work on issuing visas will be carried out in a way that is favorable for Algeria.¹⁰ It should be noted that a significant part of the French people had a negative attitude to the easing of the immigration regime for Algerians, even the fact of the president's trip to Algeria was perceived by his fellow citizens without enthusiasm, fearing that after this visit, Algerians would consider France their possible asylum.¹¹

The Algerian leadership was forced to be content with Chirac's vague promises, but Franco-Algerian economic relations began to develop more intensively.

It must be said that the French government did not intend to realize the hopes of Algerians for easing the immigration regime. Moreover, on November 26, 2003, France adopted the "Law on the Management of Immigration and Stay of Foreigners in France and on Citizenship", aimed at curbing immigration flows to this country12. The measures taken were aimed not only at immigrants from Algeria, but Algerians were among the first to feel them.

By 2006, France was firmly embedded in the Algerian economic space, and Paris began to tighten the screws on immigration control. Thus, on the initiative of the then Minister of the Interior, Nicolas Sarkozy, on July 24, 2006, the "Law on Immigration and Integration"¹³ was adopted, according to which residence permits were granted only to qualified workers. In addition, the 1998 law was repealed, according to which a foreigner who had lived in France for 10 or more years had the right to obtain citizenship.

Nevertheless, during the years of Jacques Chirac's presidency (1995 - 2007), Algerian and French politicians held regular meetings and negotiations, and mutually beneficial agreements were signed. In 1999, the Council of Commerce and Industry of France and Algeria was founded. In 2006, Algeria signed a Memorandum of Economic and Financial Partnership aimed at "supporting the process of economic and financial reform in Algeria through technical assistance and training for Algerian leaders, promoting trade and investment, and developing industrial sectors (automotive, food and pharmaceutical)" ^.14

At the same time, the issue of granting visas to Algerian citizens and integrating Algerians into French society was constantly raised during the negotiations, which made it difficult for France to join the Schengen area ¹⁵.

THE ALGERIAN POLITICS OF NICOLAS SARKOZY

During the presidential election campaign, Nicolas Sarkozy (2007-2012) stated that the French foreign policy doctrine should be updated and improved, but innovations should not negate the results achieved in the international arena by President Chirac. By the way, Sarkozy, after becoming president of France, repeatedly called Chirac's foreign policy "exemplary" and "ideal".

At the very beginning of his presidency, Sarkozy outlined three main tasks: ensuring the security of France and the French (fighting global terrorism, nuclear proliferation, environmental pollution); protecting the values of freedom, respect for human rights; and promoting the state's trade and economic interests on the world stage. According to N. Sarkozy, the confrontation between the West and the Islamic world affects the interests of France in the Middle East and threatens to develop into a "clash of civilizations"¹⁶. That is, despite the change of presidents, the political doctrine of France has not fundamentally changed.

Sarkozy supported Chirac's policy towards Algeria. His speech during a three-day visit to the country in December 2007 was, in fact, similar to Chirac's speech delivered there in 2003.

Like his predecessor, Sarkozy paid great attention to the evolution of relations between the two countries ("Our history consists of light and shadow, blood and passion") and stressed that the common past was not always cloudless. However, he did not recognize the political excesses of France in relation to Algeria, noting only that "the colonial system was deeply unfair." Like Chirac, Sarkozy emphasized economic cooperation and said that " Algeria and France have long been two strategic economic partners. On the African continent, Algeria remains the main partner of France." In addition, the president added with some satisfaction: "The amount of contracts that we are signing tomorrow will amount to more than 5 billion euros!" ¹⁷

Unlike Chirac, Sarkozy did not encourage Algerians to relax their immigration policy and said the main goal of his visit was to expand business cooperation, which meant increasing investment in the Algerian economy and providing new jobs at French enterprises in Algeria.

On immigration policy, Sarkozy appealed to Algerians: "Choose full integration in our republic, but do not abandon your roots. On the contrary, two people should go together, and this is possible only in the following cases:

based on openness, tolerance, mutual respect, and hope for a common future. In France, as in Algeria, it is necessary to fight with unwavering determination against all manifestations of racism, all forms of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. " ¹⁸

Algeria hoped for more, because the Algerians were used to French investment "injections" and assumed that the development of economic contacts would be a prologue to cooperation on immigration. However, such hopes were unfounded: Sarkozy was initially determined to narrow immigration flows to France. Moreover, it was this turn of politics that won him the sympathy of the French electorate in 2007.19

After the visit of Nicolas Sarkozy to Algeria, the pace of development of economic cooperation between the two countries has noticeably accelerated. In 2008, as a result of the trip of the French Prime Minister F. A Franco-Algerian financial cooperation agreement was signed in Algeria, aimed at "modernizing economic and financial management, in particular supporting tax and customs reforms" ²⁰.

In June 2009, the French Budget Minister E. Vert signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of financial audit with the Algerian side. In June 2010, French Interior Minister Claude Gueant arrived in Algeria. During this visit, it was decided to create a mechanism for monitoring bilateral economic cooperation, which was implemented by former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin (2002-2005) and Algerian Minister of Industry and Investment Support Mohamed Benmeradi. As part of this mission, Raffaren undertook four missions to Algeri21 from November 2010 to ^February 2012.

The measures taken led to the implementation of a number of major investment projects in a number of industries: packaging ,transport (between the French company Alstom and the Algerian Ferrovial), construction (Lafarge), food (between the French company Cristal and the Algerian group of companies Labette), as well as in medicine (Sanofi-Aventis). A major trade and investment agreement was signed between the Algerian company Sonatrak and Gaz de France on the annual supply of gas from Algeria in the amount of 1 billion cubic meters. m for more than 20 years.

It should be noted that similar successes of French business in Algeria were achieved without concessions in immigration policy.

In his speeches, N. Sarkozy repeatedly pointed out that the problem of immigration should be solved harshly and uncompromisingly, since in France "there are not enough free jobs, there are not enough schools and housing." He also noted the attractiveness of French social benefits for immigrants, while at the same time pointing out "integration problems that arise primarily among immigrants from North Africa and sub-Saharan States... In France, Islam has become the second largest religion. " ²²

Sarkozy managed to implement a number of effective measures to curb immigration. In particular, he created the Department for Immigration, Integration and National Identity. It was headed by Brice Ortefe, who received the nicknames "Minister of Fear" and "Minister of police raids". France spared no effort and money to control immigration: the expulsion of one illegal immigrant cost the French treasury 21 thousand euros. In addition, on November 20, 2007, the "Law on Immigration, Integration and Asylum Management"was adopted.²³

These and a number of other actions have reduced the immigration flow from North Africa. However, the issue of integrating Algerians into French society remained unresolved. Relations between the French and immigrants were not the easiest. According to a 2007 survey, 61% of French people said that they do not feel at home because of immigrants.²⁴

FRANCOIS HOLLANDE'S POLICY

New (since 2012) owner of the Elysee Palace-Francois Ol-

Land stated the need to give a new impetus to Franco-Algerian relations. The President's political rhetoric shows a desire to win the popularity of the Algerian people and the country's leadership. During his two - day visit to Algeria on December 19-20, 2012, the French President addressed the Algerian Parliament, where he recognized the illegality of France's actions during Algeria's struggle for independence. However, he did not mention the atrocities of French colonization.

Algerians reacted positively to Hollande's statements. Indeed, Sarkozy did not have a very good reputation, and Algerians believed that during his presidency, relations between the two countries left much to be desired.²⁵ Against this background, F. Hollande's words about the" suffering "of the Algerians and the "unfair settlement" of the political situation in the early 1960s were almost enthusiastically received. But despite the fact that Hollande describes himself as a "friend of Algeria," former President Jacques Chirac remains the most popular French politician in Algeria, in particular because he "said no" to the war in Iraq. " ²⁶

Some French researchers were skeptical of Hollande's speech. Thus, French historian Pierre Vermerand in an interview with the Express newspaper suggested that Hollande's recognition of France's political mistakes would not add to his points in Algeria, since 85% of the country's population was born after the war.²⁷

Francois Hollande's speech to the Algerian parliament can be interpreted in different ways, but the speech was followed by concrete political steps aimed at intensifying Franco-Algerian relations. At the end of the visit, the two countries signed a Declaration of Friendship and Cooperation, an Agreement on cooperation in the defense sector, and a Memorandum on cooperation in Finance; in addition, the parties agreed to conduct a permanent political dialogue on immigration and cultural interaction.²⁸

Bilateral Economic Partnership under the Federal Government Hollande is not slowing down. Renault and the Algerian government signed an agreement on the construction of an automobile plant in Algeria. It is expected that starting from 2014, the company will annually produce at least 25 thousand tons. cars, mostly "Renault Logan" and "Renault Symbol".

Francois Hollande is trying to strengthen Franco-Algerian relations through constructive political dialogue. His statements are characterized by a certain populism inherent in French political rhetoric in general, but now such a technique is more justified than ever, since the unstable situation in the countries of North Africa does not encourage "honest" statements and hasty decisions.

* * *

Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande drew on the historical foundations of French policy in the Maghreb countries. At the same time, all three French presidents were quite frank in their political statements concerning immigration, economic or political cooperation. With few exceptions, the words of the French leaders were supported by concrete political steps. The dialogue between the two countries has not always been easy. It can be noted that it was most difficult to build constructive bilateral cooperation during the Sarkozy presidency.

Currently, France remains Algeria's leading strategic partner. Economic relations between the two countries are particularly productive. Despite the fact that in recent years France has faced worthy competitors in Algeria in the form of South Korea and its "neighbor" in the EU, Germany, it has managed to increase economic cooperation. Perhaps because France and Algeria are not only economic

partners, but also united by a common history. We can agree with the words of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika that " relations between France and Algeria may be good or bad, but they cannot be trivial."

^{Rubinsky Yu. I.} 1 France. Sarkozy's time. Moscow, International Relations Publ., 2011, p. 177.

² Le Figaro Magazine, 21 septembre 1991.

^{Pankin I.} 3 Islam in France, Moscow, 2005, p. 87.

^{Olivier Roy.} 4 La laicite face a l'islam. P., 2009, p. 172.

⁵ La presence economique franchise en Algerie reste encore confidentielle // La tribune,19.03.2012 - http://www.latribune.fr/actualites/economie/ 20120319trib000689092/la-presence-economique-francaise-en-algerie-reste-encore-confident ielle-html

^{Guemache H.} 6 Algerie: Renault veut ecarter son rival Volkswagen // La tribune, 25.09.2012 - http://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/automobile/20120925trib000721231/alg erie-renault-veut-ec

⁷ Association des Concessionaires Automobiles d'Algerie - http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/2090291/

⁸ Discours prononce par M. Jacques CHIRAC, President de la Republique, devant le Parlement algerien, le 3 mars 2003 - http://www.jacqueschirac-asso.fr/fr/les-grands-discours-de-jacques-chirac?post_id=2554

⁹ Ibidem.

¹⁰ Ibid.

¹¹ La visite de Jacques Chirac en Algerie est-elle une bonne chose? // Le parisien, 02.03.2003.

¹² Les lois de 2003 et 2006: maitrise des flux migratoires et selection de la main-d'oeuvre etrangere - http://www.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr/dossiers/immigration/politique-immigration.shtml

¹³ Loi n° 2006 - 911 du 24 juillet 2006 relative a l'immigration et a l'integration (1) NOR: INTX0600037L - http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000000266495&dateText e=&categorieL ien=id

¹⁴ Ambassade d'Algerie en France - Affaires Economiques. Le pole economique et commercial de TAmbassade d'Algerie en France contribue a la mise en ceuvre des accords bilateraux de cooperation - http://www.ambal-gerie.fr/Economique/eco_pl.htm

^{Bogucharsky E. M.} 15 Foreign policy of Algeria at the turn of the century / / Asia and Africa today. 2003, N 4, p. 26.

^{Rubinsky Yu. I.} 16 Edict. soch., pp. 254-255.

¹⁷ Discours de Nicolas Sarkozy a Alger - http://www.afrik.com/article13062.html

¹⁸ Ibidem.

^{Kolobov O. A., Ageev K. V.} 19 Politika po otnoshenii k migrantam prezidenta Frantsii N. Sarkozy kak instrument electoralnoy borby na sovremennom etape [Politics in relation to migrants of the President of France N. Sarkozy as an instrument of electoral struggle at the present stage]. Vestnik Nizhegorodskogo universiteta im. 2011, No. 1, pp. 322-328.

²⁰ Ibid.

²¹ Ibid.

²² Compte rendu integral du debat: immigration (partie 4) // Le Monde, 03.05.2012 - http://www.lemonde.fr/election-presidentielle-2012/article/2012/05/03/compte-rendu-integral -du-debat-imrnigration-partie-4_1694472_1471069.html

²³ Loi n° 2007 - 1631 du 20 novembre 2007 relative a la maitrise de 1'immigration, a ['integration et a l'asile (1) NOR: IMIX0756368L - http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do7cidTextesJORFTEXT000000524004&dateText e=&categorieLien=id

²⁴ Panel electoral francais (2007) Cevipof-Ministere de rinterieur. Vague 2 // Enquete post-electorale presidentielle, 2007.

²⁵ http://www.france24.com/fr/20121217-hollande-algerte-moins-populaire-chirac-mais-plus-sar kozy-francc-image

²⁶ Ibidem.

²⁷ La presse algerienne notera certainement que Hollande a fait le service minimum // lexpress, 20.12.2012 - http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/monde/afrique/la-presse-algerienne-notera-certainement-que- hollande-a-fait-le-service-minimum_1201624.html

²⁸ Communique des ministres algerien et francais des Affaires etrangeres sur la relation bilaterale franco-algerienne (20 decembre 2012) - http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/pays-zones-geo/algerie/la-france-et-1-algerie/visites-8312/ar ticle/communique-des-ministres-algerien

Permanent link to this publication: