Page "Foreign relations of Algeria" Paragraph 17

In the early 1990s, nearly 20 percent of all Algerian exports and imports were destined for or originated from France.

More than 1 million Algerians resided in France and there were numerous francophones in Algeria, creating a tremendous cultural overlap.

French remained the language of instruction in most schools and the language used in more than two-thirds of all newspapers and periodicals and on numerous television programs.

Algeria and France share a cultural background that transcends diplomatic maneuvers and has persisted throughout periods of " disenchantment " and strained relations.

Over time, however, the arabization of Algeria and the increasing polarization of society between the francophone elite and the Arab masses have mobilized anti-French sentiment.

Support for the arabization of Algerian society — including the elimination of French as the second national language and emphasis on an arabized education curriculum — and the recent success of the FIS indicate a growing fervor in Algeria for asserting an independent national identity.

Such an identity emphasizes its Arab and Islamic cultural tradition rather than its French colonial past.

However, France's support for the military regime that assumed power in early 1992 indicates that the cooperative relations between the two countries remain strong.