Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, has apologised for comments made at the London Book Fair regarding Algeria’s independence from France.
In comments attributed to Sheikh Sultan, he reportedly said the French president General Charles de Gaulle granted independence to Algeria in 1962 to satisfy the Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser.
On Thursday, Sheikh Sultan said his words may have been misunderstood due to their “succinctness” and he expressed his appreciation and respect for his brothers in Algeria, according to state news agency Wam.
“I am not ignorant of the history of Algeria and my words at the London Book Fair were part of the discussion of the affinity between Charles de Gaulle and his minister of culture, Andre Malraux, and how the latter had had a great influence on him,” Sheikh Sultan said.
“Charles de Gaulle dealt with our resisting brothers in Algeria in the worst manner ever,” he said.
“I apologise to my Algerian brothers whom I deeply love and respect if they considered my words as unfair to them,” he said.
