Category: Government Policy

Tunis: President of the Republic, Kais Saied, had a meeting, Monday, at Carthage Palace, with Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó, who is making a working visit to Tunisia.

The President of the Republic spoke of the key stages of the strong ties binding Tunisia and Hungary since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1956.

According to a press release from the Presidency of the Republic, the Head of State reiterated the common values shared by both countries, such as freedom and independence of national decision-making.

Kais Saied expressed Tunisia’s determination to boost cooperation with Hungary and within the framework of the European Union, particularly in the fields of renewable energy, food security, higher education, trade and transport.

During the meeting, the Head of State strongly condemned the genocide against Palestinians, reminding of Tunisia’s firm position to establish an independent Palestinian’s State with al Quds as its capital.

«Tunisia fully supports
the right of Palestinians for an independent State and to obtain full membership in the United Nations,» he pointed out.

The issue of irregular migration was also discussed. «Tunisia is a state of law and will never shelter outlaws,» Saied pointed out, adding that «this is a common responsibility. Together, we need to address the underlying reasons for its emergence and spread.»

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Security units dismantled a criminal network specialized in human trafficking and money laundering operating between Nabeul and Sfax and headed by an individual who is the subject of seven search warrants, reads a statement of the General Directorate of the National Guard on Sunday.

The leader of the criminal network made use of the identity of his deceased brother to make financial transactions, the statement adds.

The police operation made it possible to take ten people into custody and issue nine arrest warrants against them.

One of the arrested individuals owns a store selling iron used in the manufacture of illegal sea crossing boats. He is accused of having falsified invoices worth around 2.5 million dinars, the same source says.

This network manufactured hundreds of iron boats used in illegal sea border crossing operations. It is made up of smugglers, truck drivers and two owners of iron stores who falsified invoices to facilitate the transport of quantities of iron to the Jebeniana region (
Sfax governorate).

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Security units dismantled a criminal network specialized in human trafficking and money laundering operating between Nabeul and Sfax and headed by an individual who is the subject of seven search warrants, reads a statement of the General Directorate of the National Guard on Sunday.

The leader of the criminal network made use of the identity of his deceased brother to make financial transactions, the statement adds.

The police operation made it possible to take ten people into custody and issue nine arrest warrants against them.

One of the arrested individuals owns a store selling iron used in the manufacture of illegal sea crossing boats. He is accused of having falsified invoices worth around 2.5 million dinars, the same source says.

This network manufactured hundreds of iron boats used in illegal sea border crossing operations. It is made up of smugglers, truck drivers and two owners of iron stores who falsified invoices to facilitate the transport of quantities of iron to the Jebeniana region (
Sfax governorate).

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Rabat – In a recent statement made on Monday in Rabat, Theodoros Rousopoulos, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), lauded Morocco’s pivotal role in fostering stable relations between Africa and Europe. Rousopoulos emphasized the significant reforms spearheaded by HM King Mohammed VI, asserting that these reforms position Morocco as a beacon of progress within the region.

Highlighting the alignment of Morocco’s recent reforms with the principles upheld by the Council of Europe, Rousopoulos underscored the nation’s commitment to democratic values and governance. His remarks came following discussions with Nasser Bourita, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates.

The close rapport between the Moroccan Parliament and the Council of Europe was also acknowledged by Rousopoulos, particularly on the occasion of the Council’s 75th anniversary this year. He commended the fruitful cooperation between the two entities, expressing his intent to bo
lster and fortify these ties in the forthcoming months.

Since 2011, the Moroccan Parliament has held the esteemed status of Partner for Democracy with the PACE, affording it active involvement in the activities of the Council. Building upon this partnership, Rousopoulos announced new avenues for collaboration, granting Moroccan parliamentary delegates the authority to propose recommendations and resolutions, as well as to submit amendments and request discussions on pressing matters.

This announcement signifies a deepening of the relationship between Morocco and the Council of Europe, offering Moroccan representatives increased avenues for engagement and advocacy within the international arena.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Rabat – The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) praises Morocco’s commitment to international security and its decades-long efforts to reform its social, political and economic sectors, Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of NATO Military Committee, said on Monday in Rabat.

In a statement to the press following talks with Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of National Defense Administration, Abdeltif Loudyi, Admiral Rob Bauer, who is visiting the Kingdom on April 28-30, said that “NATO is proud to call Morocco our partner.”

He commended the strong and mutually beneficial relations that Morocco and the Alliance have built, thanks in particular to the Mediterranean Dialogue and NATO’s cooperation program.

Morocco has taken part in a high number of NATO exercises, to which the Kingdom has brought its expertise and experience in the fields of counterterrorism and illegal immigration, as well as in terms of maritime security, noted Admiral Rob Bauer.

NATO member countries share the same challenge
s with those of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, he added, citing as examples the threats posed by extremist groups, terrorism and nuclear proliferation.

‘We all have different approaches to tackling these challenges. It is crucial that we keep turning our diversity into a strength,’ said Admiral Rob Bauer, underlining the Alliance’s determination to strengthen its relations with the countries of the region, including Morocco.

To this end, he stressed the need to seize opportunities to grow this cooperation in the service of peace and stability. In order to do that, NATO must ‘listen harder, better and more actively’ to its partners and invest in skills and people to do this, he said.

During his visit to Morocco, Admiral Bauer will host a conference at the Royal College of Higher Military Education in Kenitra for military officers on the theme of ‘NATO’s perspectives and strategies’.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Rabat – Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, received, Monday in Rabat, the Gambian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mamadou Tangara, bearer of a written message to His Majesty King Mohammed VI from the President of the Republic of the Gambia, Adama Barrow.

In a statement to the press following the meeting, Tangara welcomed the excellent relations between Morocco and The Gambia, commending the Kingdom’s considerable support, under the leadership of His Majesty the King, for the success of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit, scheduled for May 4 and 5 in The Gambia.

He reiterated The Gambia’s willingness to work hand in hand with Morocco to achieve the goals set for a prosperous, united and stable Africa, stressing the importance of the Royal Atlantic Initiative, which guarantees stability and prosperity.

The Gambia’s top diplomat also took the opportunity to reaffirm his country’s support for Morocco’s territorial integrity
and sovereignty over its entire territory, including the Moroccan Sahara.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Tunis: Hungary will soon take over the presidency of the European Union at a time when “Europe is facing many crises and serious threats, including in particular the scourge of irregular migration affecting some European countries,” Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said after his meeting with President Kaïs Saïed at the Carthage Palace on Monday.

The European Union’s policy on irregular migration harms both European and North African countries, he said. The risks of irregular migration affect both the receiving countries and the countries of origin of the migrants, he stressed.

In order to effectively combat the scourge of irregular migration, it is essential to “bring about changes in the European Union’s policies”.

To achieve this, it was imperative not to cooperate with migrant smuggling and human trafficking networks and not to support non-governmental organisations that help African migrants cross the Mediterranean to European shores in exchange for money, he added.

Ins
tead of supporting smuggling networks and NGOs with tens and hundreds of millions of euros, the Hungarian minister said, the European Union should instead help law enforcement agencies and coastguards in North Africa to contain the pressure of migratory flows and deal with this scourge.

The Hungarian official also stressed that the European Union should banish “the policy of diktat” towards North African countries and establish relations based on mutual respect.’

He also called for the strengthening of development programmes for African countries.

If Europe really wants to protect itself against the threats of terrorism and irregular migration, it must support the law enforcement authorities in North African countries, he stressed.

He called on the European Union “not to interfere in Tunisia’s internal affairs” and “not to exert any pressure that could destabilise the country”.

He called for cooperation based on equality and respect and for support for Tunisia in its efforts to combat irregular migration
and promote economic development.

Regarding bilateral relations, Péter Szijjártó pointed out that Tunisia and Hungary are two “sovereign” states that “do not accept foreign interference in their internal affairs”.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: A Tunisian delegation, led by Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Mounir Ben Rjiba, will be taking part in the third meeting for Arab Economic, Cooperation Forum with Countries of Central Asia, Azerbaijan.

The event is scheduled to be held in Doha, Qatar, on April 30, 2024, according to a Ministry press release.

Discussions will revolve on the dire situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and coordinating efforts to end the Zionist aggression against Gaza and the entirety of Palestine.

The Forum will also provide an opportunity for consultations on key issues of mutual interest and the future action plan for developing cooperation between the three concerned parties.

On the sidelines of this session, the Secretary of State will have bilateral meetings with the heads of delegations participating in this Forum.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Nabil Ammar and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó on Monday chaired an extended working session attended by the two countries’ delegations, to discuss the various aspects of bilateral cooperation, particularly at the economic and investment level.

The two ministers commended the excellent relations of friendship and cooperation binding the two countries, which have seen steady growth in recent years in many fields, notably with the frequent exchange of high-level visits between the two countries, pointing out the need to further make the most of the offered opportunities to further cement the Tunisian-Hungarian partnership.

They discussed relations with the European Union (EU), ahead of the Hungarian presidency of the EU Council, the recovery of embezzled funds in Europe, and regional and international issues of joint interest, notably irregular migration and the ongoing genocide in Gaza, according to a Foreign
Ministry press release.

At the end of the talks, the two ministers chaired the signing ceremony of bilateral agreements in the ICT, digital economy, university scholarship exchange and cooperation in the railway transport fields.

The Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade is on a working visit to Tunisia at the invitation of his Tunisian counterpart, the 4th visit since his appointment, which falls within the framework of the excellent relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries since 1956, the intensification of political consultations launched in 1996, and in response to the visit of the Foreign Minister to Budapest in June 2023 to participate in the 5th session of the Joint Economic Commission and the 3rd Tunisian-Hungarian Business Forum.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: “The Tunisian state will not stand idly by in the face of those who seek to jeopardise its security and its citizens,” said President Kais Saied during a meeting with Interior Minister Kamel Feki at Carthage Palace on Monday.

During the meeting, the president reviewed the general security situation in the country, particularly the intensive security operations he has ordered in a number of cities and neighbourhoods to enforce respect for the law and dismantle all criminal networks that seek to terrorise citizens and sow chaos among them by any means and methods. This is in addition to committing acts punishable by law, according to a statement issued by the Presidency of the Republic.

He also praised the efforts of the Interior Ministry forces, saying that he had “followed their operations from the beginning until this morning, after a good preparation”.

He stressed the need for in-depth investigations and the submission of all files to the judicial authorities, “with full responsibility for all par
ties, both visible and hidden, behind these desperate attempts to attack the security of the state and society”.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: “The Tunisian state will not stand idly by in the face of those who seek to jeopardise its security and its citizens,” said President Kais Saied during a meeting with Interior Minister Kamel Feki at Carthage Palace on Monday.

During the meeting, the president reviewed the general security situation in the country, particularly the intensive security operations he has ordered in a number of cities and neighbourhoods to enforce respect for the law and dismantle all criminal networks that seek to terrorise citizens and sow chaos among them by any means and methods. This is in addition to committing acts punishable by law, according to a statement issued by the Presidency of the Republic.

He also praised the efforts of the Interior Ministry forces, saying that he had “followed their operations from the beginning until this morning, after a good preparation”.

He stressed the need for in-depth investigations and the submission of all files to the judicial authorities, “with full responsibility for all par
ties, both visible and hidden, behind these desperate attempts to attack the security of the state and society”.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Speaker of the Assembly of People’s Representatives (ARP), Brahim Bouderbala, reiterated Tunisia’s unconditional support for the Palestinian cause, in a speech delivered on his behalf by his assistant for general administration, Fadhel Ben Turkia, at the 5th Conference of the League of Parliamentarians for Al-Quds, held in Istanbul, Turkey, from April 26 to 28, under the theme “Freedom and Independence for Palestine”.

In a statement issued by the parliament on Sunday, Bouderbala praised the determination and bravery of the Palestinian brothers in Gaza over the past six months and their resistance in the face of the genocidal war machine and the barbaric attacks carried out by the Zionist occupation forces in violation of human rights and in the face of the silence and inaction of the international community.

Bouderbala reiterated Tunisia’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people’s efforts to regain their stolen land and establish an independent state with Al-Quds as its capital.

He also denoun
ced the position of certain countries that support the Zionist entity, which is responsible for war crimes and the massive destruction of hospitals, homes and all infrastructure in the occupied Palestinian territories, calling in this regard for an immediate halt to the attacks by the occupying forces.

The Speaker of the ARP also called on the International League of Parliamentarians for Al-Quds to increase its efforts and coordinate the positions of parliamentarians in the service of the Palestinian cause in accordance with international resolutions and rights.

The work of the 5th Conference of the League of Parliamentarians for Al-Quds is being held in Turkey in the presence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the participation of nearly 600 parliamentarians from more than 75 countries.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: President of the Tunisian Bar Association, Hatem Mziou, has called on the Ministry of Justice to honour its commitments and immediately launch and expand the use of distance justice. He insisted on digitising the sector and ensuring fair access to justice.

Speaking on Sunday on the sidelines of the scientific symposium on access to justice in Tabarka (Jendouba), organised by the Jendouba regional section of the Bar Association in partnership with the Tunis and Kasserine sections, Hatem Mziou stressed that justice is an essential vector for development and investment and that the right of access to justice is a duty that the state must guarantee to all litigants.

In a statement to TAP, the President of the Bar Association pointed out that e-Justice is one of the strongest guarantees of access to justice, which requires a political will capable of making it a reality, especially as the Ministry and the structures of the profession have completed the logistical and technical preparations necessary for i
ts implementation.

The academic Daoud Yacoub, who took part in the meeting, noted that the State is called upon to provide an accessible judicial service, pointing out that Tunisian litigants are today frustrated by the complexity of the procedures that prevent them from fully benefiting from their rights in this regard.

In his view, the failure to guarantee fair access to justice has serious economic consequences for social peace.

And for good reason: the campaigns to demonise the judiciary, waged by both the executive and the opposition since 2011, have undermined confidence in the sector and encouraged citizens to take the law into their own hands.

The academic described this phenomenon as worrying and called for a national debate to put an end to this trend.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó will pay a working visit to Tunisia on Monday at the invitation of Nabil Ammar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad.

‘This is the fourth visit since his appointment and comes within the framework of the excellent relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries since 1956 and the intensification of political consultations initiated in 1996.’

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, the talks will provide an opportunity to discuss ways of enhancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation in various fields, especially in the context of the forthcoming Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, in addition to deepening consultations on a number of current regional and international issues of common interest.

Tunisian-Hungarian relations date back to 1956, when Tunisia became the first Maghreb country and the fourth in the Arab world (after Iraq,
Egypt and Syria) to establish diplomatic relations with Hungary.

In January 2013, Tunisia decided to upgrade its diplomatic representation in Budapest to the level of ambassador, which was warmly welcomed by the Hungarian authorities.

For its part, Hungary has been providing continuous political support to Tunisia since 2011, which has been reflected in an increased frequency of visits, as well as its support for the decision to remove Tunisia from the European blacklist of high-risk countries in the field of money laundering and terrorist financing, its support for Tunisia’s request to extend the deadlines for the recovery of stolen funds, and Tunisia’s accession to the European Framework Research and Innovation Programme “Horizon Europe 2021-2027”.

The first meeting of the Joint Commission was held in Tunis on March 11-12, 2010 at the level of Secretaries of State, while the fifth meeting of the Joint Committee was held for the first time at the level of Foreign Ministers on June 20-21, 2010 in the Hunga
rian capital Budapest.

As for the volume of trade, the total amount of Hungarian direct investment in Tunisia does not exceed TND 490,000, through three companies based in Tunisia, while bilateral trade has witnessed a remarkable increase since Hungary joined the European Union in 2004, as Hungary is the 24th customer of Tunisia and the 29th supplier in 2019.

Regarding cooperation in the field of tourism, 2022 recorded a return to the normal pattern of the flow of Hungarian tourists to Tunisia, with the entry of about 15,000 tourists, while 2023 recorded a significant increase, with the number of tourists reaching 20,570.

There are no regular direct flights between Tunisia and Budapest.

On another level, the two countries are linked by an agreement on judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters, recognition and enforcement of judgments and extradition, signed in Budapest on December 6, 1982 and ratified by the Tunisian side on April 6, 1984.

The number of Tunisian citizens living in Hungary is 1
,314, of whom 149 have dual nationality. The professional composition of the community includes 646 students, 75 pupils, 253 workers and 206 managers and professionals.

Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar visited Hungary last year to participate in the fifth session of the Joint Economic Commission and the third Tunisian-Hungarian Business Forum.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Nabil Ammar, on the sidelines of his visit to Cameroon, visited two Tunisian companies based in this African country, STUDI INTERNATIONAL and SCET TUNISIE, to learn about their activities and identify the concerns of Tunisians working for the two companies.

The Minister expressed his deep pride in the presence of Tunisian companies in Cameroon, ‘which represent a major asset for Tunisia abroad and an important contribution to the country’s development efforts,’ according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday.

During these two visits, he stressed the Tunisian government’s willingness to support Tunisian investors abroad and to help them develop cooperation with all African countries in order to raise it to the level Tunisia aspires to.

The Foreign Minister is visiting Cameroon on April 26 and 27, at the head of a Tunisian delegation for the 11th session of the Tunisian-Cameroonian Joint Commission.

Source: A
gence Tunis Afrique Presse