TUNISIA: French foreign minister Alain Juppe meets with officials from Tunisia's newly elected Islamist-led government as both sides strive for a strong partnership between the North African state and its former colonial power

Record ID: 344101

  • Title: TUNISIA: French foreign minister Alain Juppe meets with officials from Tunisia's newly elected Islamist-led government as both sides strive for a strong partnership between the North African state and its former colonial power
  • Date: 6th January 2012
  • Summary: TUNIS, TUNISIA (JANUARY 5, 2012) (REUTERS) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) CAR CONTAINING FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER ALAIN JUPPE ARRIVING JUPPE LEAVING CAR JUPPE SITTING WITH TUNISIAN PRIME MINISTER HAMADI JBELI VARIOUS OF MEDIA VARIOUS OF JUPPE JUPPE ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE HALL (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER ALAIN JUPPE, SAYING: "We support the democratic process which is taking place here in Tunisia because it is based on shared values, such as the rule of law and respect for public and private freedoms, human rights and women's rights. We agree on all these goals and it is with a feeling of confidence that I see this democratic transition happening, which will lead soon to a new constitution." VARIOUS OF NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS / JOURNALISTS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER ALAIN JUPPE, SAYING: "We have increased our assistance as I said during my visit last April, and I'm happy to see that this has become a reality. The European Union, in turn, is determined to support Tunisias efforts, and in the framework of the partnership of " Deauville agreement" we will be developing an ambitious plan of action. We are also committed to support cultural and linguistic cooperation, France welcomes a large number of Tunisian who are excellent students in its universities and this will continue. We have encouraged French investors to continue investing in Tunisia and we will continue to encourage French tourists to come to Tunisia because as it remains a distinctive touristic destination." JUPPE MOVING AWAY FROM PODIUM AS TUNISIAN FOREIGN MINISTER RAFIK ABDESSLEM STANDS AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) TUNISIAN FOREIGN MINISTER RAFIK ABDESSLEM, SAYING: "We are partners with the European Union and France is the first country in this companionship and we are very keen to develop our relationship with our partners, including France, not only including France but mainly France in all domains, economical or political or the domain of education - all fields. We are very keen to develop our relationship with our neighbouring countries, including Algeria, Libya, Morocco, our relationship also with Africa as we are an African country. Tunisia is a multi-dimensional country and we are very keen to have an active and effective foreign policy." VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER ALAIN JUPPE, SAYING: "During my last visit in the month of April, I indicated that the French Development Agency would invest 350 million euros in Tunisia over 2011 and 2012, we have already paid 180 million euros which is just over half the amount and we will pay the second half during 2012." VARIOUS OF JUPPE WITH ABDESSLEM JUPPE SITTING WITH OFFICIALS
  • Embargoed: 21st January 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Tunisia, Tunisia
  • Country: Tunisia
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAE5DVQ65IM5IC1ZGP8CBN18LNM
  • Story Text: French foreign minister Alain Juppe met with officials from Tunisia's newly elected Islamist-led government on Thursday (January 5) as part of a two day visit that Paris and Tunis hope will cement stronger ties between the North African country and its former colonial ruler.
    Juppe met with Prime Minister Hamadi Jbeli from the Islamist Ennahda movement that is hoping to emulate the success of Turkey's ruling AK Party that has managed to emerge as a powerful player in a country ruled by strict secular laws.
    "We support the democratic process which is taking place here in Tunisia because it is based on shared values, such as the rule of law and respect for public and private freedoms, human rights and women's rights. We agree on all these goals and it is with a feeling of confidence that I see this democratic transition happening, which will lead soon to a new constitution," Juppe said in a news conference.
    "We have increased our assistance as I said during my visit last April, and I'm happy to see that this has become a reality. The European Union, in turn, is determined to support Tunisias efforts, and in the framework of the partnership of " Deauville agreement" we will be developing an ambitious plan of action. We are also committed to support cultural and linguistic cooperation, France welcomes a large number of Tunisian who are excellent students in its universities and this will continue. We have encouraged French investors to continue investing in Tunisia and we will continue to encourage French tourists to come to Tunisia because as it remains a distinctive touristic destination," he added.
    Tunisians overthrew long-time dictator Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali last year through a popular revolt and have so far managed to begin their transition into a democratic state relatively peacefully.
    Tunisia's ability to remove one of the Arab World's notorious dictators inspired similar revolts across the Arab World.
    "We are partners with the European Union and France is the first country in this companionship and we are very keen to develop our relationship with our partners, including France, not only including France but mainly France in all domains, economical or political or the domain of education - all fields. We are very keen to develop our relationship with our neighbouring countries, including Algeria, Libya, Morocco, our relationship also with Africa as we are an African country. Tunisia is a multi-dimensional country and we are very keen to have an active and effective foreign policy," said Tunisian foreign minister Rafik Abdesslem.
    Juppe said long-promised financial aid to the country will still arrive. Tunisia has suffered a huge hit to its tourism industry following the unrest that unseated Ben Ali.
    "During my last visit in the month of April, I indicated that the French Development Agency would invest 350 million euros in Tunisia over 2011 and 2012, we have already paid 180 million euros which is just over half the amount and we will pay the second half during 2012."
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