Algeria–Yugoslavia relations

Algeria–Yugoslavia relations were historical foreign relations between Algeria and now split-up Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Both countries self-identified with the wider Mediterranean region and shared membership in the Non-Aligned Movement. During the Algerian War Yugoslavia provided significant logistical and diplomatic support to the Algerian side which affected its intra-European relations with France. Yugoslavia was the first European country to openly support the FLN.[1]

Algeria-Yugoslavia relations

Algeria
Yugoslavia
Algeria
Yugoslavia 1956-1990
Algeria and Yugoslavia

Within the Non-Aligned Movement Yugoslavia closely collaborated with self-described core members of India and Egypt while Algeria followed self-described progressive group in which Cuba played prominent role. Yugoslavia officially recognized the independence of Algeria on 5 September 1961 as the first country in Europe to do so.[2] The country established formal diplomatic relations 3 days before the independence on 2 July 1962.[3] This led to rupture in Yugoslav-French relations as Paris decided to withdraw its ambassador from Belgrade.[4]

History
President of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito in Algeria (1969)

During the Algerian War representatives of the National Liberation Front described their Mediterranean ally Yugoslavia as their closest non-Arab allies.[4] During the war Yugoslavia de facto recognition of the FLN as the representative of the Algerian nation, but considering France's stern warnings avoided de jure recognition of the movement.[4] It is believed that the first secret contacts were established in 1954 in Cairo when Yugoslavia officially sold military equipment to Egypt which after one month were transferred to Algeria.[5] In October 1956 Belgrade hosted the meeting between FLN's Mohamed Khider and SFIO's Pierre Herbaut, while from 1957 Yugoslavia abandoned intermediation efforts and decided to openly support Algeria.[5] From that time French Navy started to interspect Yugoslav trade ships in Mediterranean believig that they deliver aid to Algerian rebels.[5] On 7 August 1957 French Navy discovered and took 70 tones of military equipment of Yugoslav ship Srbija [English: Serbia] while the largest discovered delivery was discovered on 18 January 1958 close to Oran when Jadrolinija's ship Slovenija [English: Slovenia] was found in possession of 148 tons of military equipment.[5] President of the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic Ferhat Abbas visited Belgrade between 6 and 12 January 1959 where he talked with the President of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito.[2] On 2 February 1959 other two members Krim Belkacem and Mhamed Yazid held talks with the Ambassador of Yugoslavia to Tunisia.[2] Yugoslavia provided food, medicine, and military supplies to the Algerian fighters which Algerians did not expect from a middle-sized European communist country.[4] Yugoslav population perceived Algerian experiences as reminiscent of its not so distant National Liberation and Revolution during the World War II.[5] Country therefore paid attention to the cultural aspect of the Algerian War and sent its photographers such as Stevan Labudović who recorded 27 films and 274 photos in 1959-1962 period, official El Moudjahid newspapers were issued in Belgrade edition as well the first gramophone recording of the Kassaman.[5] On 1 Mart 1960 National Liberation Front (FLN) opened its Bureau in Belgrade.[2] Against the Indian wishes but with support of Sukarno and Nkrumah, the Algerian FLN was invited to attend the 1961 Non-Aligned Conference in Belgrade under the status of a sovereign government.[4] Ben Bella visited Yugoslavia in March 1964.[4]

List of bilateral state visits

Yugoslav visits to Algeria
  • 24-30 April 1965: Josip Broz Tito[6]
  • 5-9 November 1969: Josip Broz Tito[6]
  • 2-10 September 1973: Josip Broz Tito[6]
  • 28-31 May1979: Josip Broz Tito[6]
  • 20-21 October 1979: Josip Broz Tito[6]

Algerian visits to Yugoslavia

See also

References
  1. Mila Turajlić (2019). "Liberation Newsreels vol. 1 - Dnevnih napada nema". In Tamara Soban (ed.). Southern Constellations: The Poetics of the Non-Aligned (PDF). Museum of Modern Art (Ljubljana). p. 177. ISBN 978-961-206-138-8.
  2. Bogetić, Dragan (2012). "Podrška Jugoslavije borbi alžirskog naroda za nezavisnost u završnoj fazi Alžirskog rata 1958-1962 [The Yugoslav Support To The Algerian People Struggle For Independence In The Final Phase Of The Algerian War 1958-1962]". Istorija 20. Veka (in Serbian) (3): 155–169. doi:10.29362/ist20veka.2012.3.bog.155-169. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  3. Radina Vučetić; Pol Bets; Radovan Cukić; Ana Sladojević (2017). Tito u Africi: slike solidarnosti (PDF). Museum of Yugoslavia. ISBN 978-86-84811-45-7.
  4. Byrne, Jeffrey James (2015). "Beyond Continents, Colours, and the Cold War: Yugoslavia, Algeria, and the Struggle for Non-Alignment". The International History Review. 37 (5): 912–932. doi:10.1080/07075332.2015.1051569. S2CID 154033045. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  5. Tot, Dora (2018). ODNOSI JUGOSLAVIJE I ALŽIRA U PRVOJ POLOVICI 1960-IH: STRATEGIJA IZGRADNJE MEKE MOĆI (PDF) (Bachelor Thesis). University of Zagreb.
  6. R. Radonić, Nemanja (2020). Слика Африке у Југославији (1945-1991) (PDF) (Doctoral Thesis). University of Belgrade. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
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