Algeria–Yugoslavia relations

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]

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]