Tunis: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Nabil Ammar, s expressed Tunisia’s willingness to establish a fair and fruitful partnership with Burkina Faso, according to a press release from the ministry.
During a meeting on Monday in Ouagadougou with his Burkinabe counterpart Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, Minister Ammar highlighted Tunisia’s initiatives to strengthen bilateral relations in various fields since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1964.
These initiatives include the opening of the Tunisian embassy in Ouagadougou in 2017, the appointment of a resident ambassador in the Burkinabe capital, the waiving of entry visas to Tunisia in 2015, and the establishment of a direct air route between the two countries’ capitals.
The FM stressed the importance of developing trade, which remain below the true potential of both nations, and of resuming medical cooperation with Tunisia.
He also stressed the need for more frequent visits by senior officials to maintain the positive
momentum in bilateral relations.
FM Ammar reaffirmed Tunisia’s commitment to continuing its support for Burkina Faso in the fields of education, higher education, vocational training, health, information technologies and public works. He praised the increasing number of Burkinabe students who choose to study in Tunisia.
Expressing Tunisia’s full solidarity with the Burkinabe government in its fight against terrorism, Nabil Ammar underlined Tunisia’s willingness to develop cooperation in the field of military training.
He noted that several officers from Burkina Faso’s armed forces were currently undergoing training in Tunisia.
He reiterated Tunisia’s respect for Burkina Faso’s sovereign decisions and its opposition to any external interference in the internal affairs of states.
For his part, Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Traoré expressed his appreciation for the longstanding relations between Tunisia and Burkina Faso and his gratitude for Tunisia’s commitment to strengthening ties between the two natio
ns and their peoples.
He noted that Burkina Faso looks forward to further benefiting from Tunisia’s expertise in vital and strategic sectors that will contribute to a promising future for both countries. He noted that Tunisia remains a source of inspiration for many African countries.
On the issue of irregular migration, the ministers confirmed the convergence of their countries’ positions and agreed to strengthen coordination on this issue.
The ministers also exchanged views on several international and regional issues of mutual interest, including the Palestinian cause, where they confirmed the convergence of their positions on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
In this context, Nabil Ammar stressed the need to put an end to the genocide perpetrated by the occupying forces against the civilian population of Gaza and the West Bank.
He reiterated Tunisia’s firm position and full support for the Palestinian people in their struggle to regain their legitimate historical rights, includin
g the establishment of an independent sovereign state on all Palestinian territories with Al-Quds as its capital.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse