Algerian Islamic Salvation Front opposes the return of the French language and recognition of Israel
Algeria, Politics, 11/4/1999

One of the key leaders of the banned Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), Abdul Qader Bu Khamkham, has addressed a message to Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in which he called on Bouteflika to work according to the saying "God forgives what had been done."

Khamkham reminded the president that the Algerian revolution, which has been commemorated at the meantime, considered Islam as the religion of the Algerian state, and the "margining" the salvation front is suffering now, Bouteflika himself had suffered for 20 years.

The message addressed by Bu Khamkham to Bouteflika coincided with the 45th anniversary of the Algerian revolution.

He is one of the FIS leaders who took part in the dialogue between the Algerian army and the leadership of the Islamic Salvation Army. A dialogue which resulted in declaring a truce unilaterally (by the front) in October, 1997.

Bu Khamkham expressed his reservations concerning several issues, especially the return back "strongly" of the French language to the Algerian administration and dealing with it among citizens, and "recognition of the Jewish Zionist entity on the Arab land of Palestine and the attempts of normalization with Israel".

For his part, in an interview on Monday with the French international radio Bouteflika said, "The Islamic Salvation Front cannot be reborn once again, by its own name or even by any other name".

Yet, Bouteflika has kept the olive branch for the jailed leaders of the front, saying that he may pardon them if they will give up their plan to establish an Islamic state.

Bouteflika added that his country will not recognize Israel unless Israel admits the right of the Palestinians to establish their own state in the Palestinian territories and the restoration of the Golan and south Lebanon.

Previous Stories:
  Red Cross delegation visits Algeria   (10/13/1999)
  Bouteflika speaks on Islamic Salvation Front's political work   (9/23/1999)
  King Mohammed congratulates Bouteflika over civil concord referendum   (9/20/1999)

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