- Title: TUNISIA: Senators McCain and Lieberman in Tunisia.
- Date: 22nd February 2011
- Summary: TUNIS, TUNISA (FEBRUARY 21, 2011) (REUTERS) SEAT OF THE TUNISIAN DEFENCE MINISTER WHERE MEETING BETWEEN U.S. SENATORS JOHN MCCAIN AND JOE LIEBERMAN MEET WITH TUNISIAN PRIME MINISTER MOHAMED GHANNOUCHI VARIOUS OF PRESS CONFERENCE OF US SENATORS . SOUNDBITE (English) SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN, SAYING: "I think the imporant thing about the process you are going through is for people to be able to express their views about the future of the country, about the United States of America and the, in my view also, the danger of radical Islamic extemism. What has happened here is a direct repudiation of al Qaeda who believes the only way you can change governments is through violence. What the people of Tunisians have proved it can take place in a peaceful..." VARIOUS OF PRESS CONFERENCE OF US SENATORS . SOUNDBITE (English) SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN, SAYING: "We discussed a number of issues with the minister and pledged our continued cooperation and we also are proud of our military and our military relationship between the U.S military and the Tunisian military." VARIOUS OF PRESS CONFERENCE OF US SENATORS SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) US SENATORS JOE LIEBERMAN, SAYING: "What we can do is help in any way we can with economic assistance, with more support to your military which played such a constructive peaceful role in the revolution, more sustainment, more equipment, shared training exercises. And I hope that we can open new paths for American investment here in Tunisia which will create more job opportunities for the people here. In our history, we've had a good relationship with Tunisia over the years." VARIOUS OF NEWS CONFERENCE OF US SENATORS
- Embargoed: 9th March 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Tunisia, Tunisia
- Country: Tunisia
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVACSLO7O0COK4FAHJ8QCPL4L75R
- Story Text: U.S. senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman meet with Tunisian Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi in a move to show support for the democratic transition of the country.
Washington has offered Tunisia help in shoring up security following its "model" revolution, U.S. Senator John McCain said on Monday (February 21).
A popular uprising in the North African state last month ended President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali's 23 years of rule, sending shock waves through the Arab world and inspiring further revolts, one of which toppled Egypt's president 10 days ago.
"I think the imporant thing about the process you are going through is for people to be able to express their views about the future of the country, about the United States of America and the, in my view also, the danger of radical Islamic extemism. What has happened here is a direct repudiation of al Qaeda who believes the only way you can change governments is through violence," McCain, the leading Republican on the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, said after meetings with Tunisian government officials.
"We discussed a number of issues with the minister and pledged our continued cooperation and we also are proud of our military and our military relationship between the U.S military and the Tunisian military," he said.
Elections to replace Ben Ali are expected by July or August. But new protests have erupted in recent days against the interim government tasked with organising the vote for failing to address rising crime rates and lingering poverty.
Tunisia's ouster of Ben Ali -- widely seen as a repressive ruler who raided state coffers -- inspired Egypt's uprising and has also encouraged mass demonstrations elsewhere in the Arab world, including in neighbouring Libya where scores of people have been shot dead by security forces.
U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman, traveling with McCain, said the situation in Libya was "tragic". - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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