UN General Assembly
1961

50. In the specific case of Algeria, whatever the outcome of the fighting it will be necessary at some stage to come to the negotiating table. Wisdom dictates that a start should be made there, if we wish to put an end to this painful tragedy which has lasted all too long. We have indicated our position clearly on the problems that provoked the breakdown — which we hope is only temporary — of the negotiations at Evian and Lugrin: the question of the Sahara and the question of minorities. In reality, these are artificial problems to anyone who cares to examine them objectively. We should like to add one other thing; our Government considers that it would not be advisable to set up a provisional executive in Algeria unless it were accepted by the Algerian people themselves and they took part in its organization and installation. In the present state of affairs, any unilateral action can only prolong a difficult situation and, moreover, would be contrary to the principle of self-determination. A provisional executive can be accepted only if it is the result of free negotiations by the parties to the dispute.