Category: Key Issues

Tunis: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Nabil Ammar, met on Wednesday with Alfonso Campisi, an Italian-Tunisian writer and professor at the University of Manouba, who presented him with his latest publication on migration from Sicily to Tunisia between the 19th and 20th centuries.

The meeting comes within the framework of supporting cultural communication and recognising the importance of the role of cultural diplomacy as a tributary of Tunisian diplomacy, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, the Minister highlighted the depth and tradition of Tunisian-Italian cultural relations, noting that the intertwining of the two cultures is an interesting model that will serve to support and strengthen relations between the peoples of the two countries.

He explained that Tunisia, as an Arab country with its cultural, linguistic and religious reserves, is not complex and is open to all European peoples and cultures, especially Italy, which
it considers one of its closest partners because of their common cultural affinities.

For his part, the Italian-Tunisian writer and academic expressed his pleasure at this meeting. He said that Tunisia had a very special place in his heart. He recalled his family’s migration from Sicily to Tunisia since 1830 and the peaceful coexistence of Sicilians and Tunisians, which led to the establishment of strong cultural and social ties. He said that a member of his family had been forced to leave Tunisia in 1943 for supporting the Tunisians’ struggle against the colonialists.

Campisi said he would continue his research and writing to promote Tunisia and the value of its people, who accept and respect all other cultures and religions, and who are steeped in an open and tolerant Islamic religion. He also said that he was looking for ways to establish the guarantee of equality between Tunisian and Italian students in the framework of scientific exchange programmes.

He also expressed his willingness to participate in
the event to be organised by the Ministry in the framework of Tunisia’s presidency of the International Organisation of the Francophonie.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Tunisians Abroad Nabil Ammar on Wednesday received during his meeting with Oman’s Ambassador to Tunisia Hilal bin Abdullah Al-Senani, a written letter from Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq to President of the Republic Kais Saied.

Besides, the FM was handed over a letter from his Omani counterpart Badr Bin Hamad Bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, saying that he welcomes the invitation to visit Tunisia and is ready to honour it as soon as possible, a Foreign Department press release reads.

During the meeting, Ammar pointed out the deep and strong long-standing relations of fraternity binding Tunisia and Oman and the need to further scale up bilateral cooperation, in a way that meets the aspirations of the two brotherly peoples.

The two sides commended the positive dynamic recorded in Tunisian-Omani relations during the recent period and in the exchange of visits between the two countries’ senior officials, especially following the visit of Tunisa’s FM’s visit to Oman la
st January 30-31, on the occasion of the 16th session of the Joint Commission.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: President Kais Saied met with Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani at Carthage Palace on Wednesday evening to discuss the progress of the government’s work over the past few days, in particular measures relating to the return of Tunisians living abroad.

The President stressed the need to create the best conditions to facilitate procedures at air, land and sea ports and to improve the quality of services provided to Tunisians living abroad before their return, during their return and during their stay in the country, according to a statement from the Presidency.

The functioning of a number of public institutions was also discussed, as well as the need to take urgent measures to ensure that each official carries out his duties to the fullest and that citizens’ interests are not disrupted or delayed for “often not innocent reasons”.

The President said: “Today we are called upon to respond to the demands of our people and to take fateful decisions that do not allow for hesitation.

Loyalty to the homeland is no
t a slogan to be raised, and the revolution is not just a memory, but must be embodied every day and at all levels, because honesty and loyalty to the homeland have a single seat, and those who choose to wait should sit outside the state apparatus”.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

President Kaïs Saïed met on Wednesday evening at Carthage Palace with Speaker of the Assembly of People’s Representatives (ARP), Brahim Bouderbala, and Speaker of the National Council of Regions and Districts, Imed Derbali.

During the meeting, they discussed the general concepts of the draft organic law that will govern relations between the two chambers of parliament, as provided for in Article 75 of the Constitution, according to a statement from the Presidency of the Republic.

The President of the Republic congratulated Derbali on his election as Speaker of the National Council of Regions and Districts.

He stressed the importance of this constitutional institution, in cooperation with the Assembly of People’s Representatives, in achieving integration and strengthening the representation of citizens in the enactment of laws, especially in the economic and social fields.

Saied recalled that all political and electoral deadlines have been met since 25 July 2021, most recently the establishment of the Nati
onal Council of Regions and Districts, stressing that the political system established by the Constitution of 25 July 2022 is in harmony with the process that began on December 17, 2010 from the interior regions and culminated centrally.

In this regard, the Head of State said: “Those who were marginalised and waiting for decisions to be made centrally are now active and involved in the development of legislation that will allow them to realise their hopes and aspirations.”

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: President Kais Saied reiterated the historic role of the judiciary in cleaning up the country when he met with Justice Minister Leila Jaffal at Carthage Palace on Wednesday, reminding her that procedures have been put in place to ensure a fair trial and not to evade accountability and punishment.

“No one is above the law, freedom can only be exercised within its framework, and those who today falsely claim to be victims of the lack of freedom are among its worst enemies, because they do not accept a true democratic system based on the will of the people and forget their abuses and the large sums of money they have received from suspicious sources, both local and foreign”.

He added that “their seminars and meetings are only organised in luxurious hotels, but they pretend to be defenders of the national decision and to be on the side of the poor,” according to a statement from the Presidency of the Republic.

The meeting also discussed the final version of the revision of Article 411 of the Commercial
Code, which takes into account a fair and desirable balance between all parties involved, «since «experience has shown that the current system lacks such a balance.»

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Mounir Benrjiba, held a teleconference on Wednesday with the heads of consular missions.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting came within the framework of the follow-up of work related to the provision of administrative services to the Tunisian community abroad.

The Minister stressed the need to step up efforts to ensure the best conditions for the summer return in terms of the quality and timeliness of the services provided, in particular the renewal of passports, as well as greater attention to the community at the maritime transit points of Genoa, Rome, Marseille, Salerno and Palermo.

This is in addition to continuing to pay full attention to all segments of the Tunisian community abroad, including families, students, professionals and new generations, according to the same source.

At the beginning of the meeting, he recalled the measures taken and asked the heads of
consular missions to inform the community.

This meeting follows two ministerial working sessions held on April 22 and 23, chaired by the Prime Minister in the presence of a number of ministers and members of the government, to discuss the issue of renewing passports for the community and preparing for the return of Tunisians abroad this summer, he noted.

For their part, the heads of consular missions expressed their willingness to do their utmost to provide quality consular services and the best conditions for the return of the Tunisian community to their homeland.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: The decision to close the investigation issued by the investigating judge at the judicial counter-terrorism division in the ‘conspiracy against State security’ case on April 12, 2024 expressly states that the media are strictly forbidden to report on the twists of the case until it has been referred to the competent court.

This clarification was made by Hanene Gueddes, spokeswoman for the judicial counter-terrorism division in a statement to TAP.

Moreover, the spokeswoman warned that any media coverage of the details of this case would necessarily result in criminal proceedings being brought against the offenders, in accordance with the laws in force.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office added that this decision was taken following the violations observed in the media coverage of the case, which was referred to the Indictments Division of the Tunis Court of Appeal, by virtue of the decision to close the investigation handed down by the examining magistrate of the Judicial Counter-Terrorism Division on Apr
il 12.

In a statement to TAP on April 16, the spokeswoman said that the investigating judge in charge of the case of ‘conspiracy against State security’ had completed his work and issued a decision to that effect on April 12, 2024, in full compliance with the procedures and deadlines laid down by law.

The spokeswoman added that the investigating judge specified in his decision that the precautionary measures decreed in the context of this case would remain in force, including in particular a ban on media coverage of the case until the competent court had ruled on the merits of the case.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: The 25th meeting of the Tunisian-Italian Joint Military Commission, which began on Monday in Tunis, ended on Tuesday.

Defence Minister Imed Memmich and his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto co-chaired the closing session.

In a speech delivered on the occasion, Minister Memmich praised the “positive atmosphere” in which the work of the Commission took place, highlighting Italy’s support in the military and development fields, according to a statement from the Ministry.

The Minister highlighted the positive results of the military activities carried out in 2023. He underlined the mutual interest of both sides in ensuring the success of the jointly planned activities for 2024 aimed at improving the operational capabilities of the military institutions of both countries.

Memmich stressed that the annual convening of the Tunisian-Italian Joint Military Commission demonstrates the willingness of both countries to raise bilateral cooperation to the desired level.

For his part, the Italian Minister of De
fence expressed his satisfaction with the success of this session of the Military Commission and the constructive nature of the debate between the two delegations. This, he said, would open up new prospects for further cooperation in various fields, including training, military health and the exchange of experts.

The Tunisian-Italian Joint Military Commission is held annually, in rotation between the two countries, with the aim of evaluating the activities planned between the two countries and drawing up a roadmap for joint activities planned for the following year.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: The date for the presidential elections will be set following the publication of the presidential decree summoning voters to the presidential elections, in accordance with the provisions of Article 101 (new) of the electoral law, said the Council of the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE).

In a press release published on Tuesday, the Electoral Authority specifies that article 101 (new) of the electoral law provides that “the convocation of voters takes place under a presidential decree within a minimum period of three months before the polling day for the legislative, regional, municipal and presidential elections, and within a minimum period of two months for the referendum.

The members of the council of the Electoral Authority, who met on Tuesday at the headquarters of the ISIE, ahead for the next electoral events, also examined the project amending the decision of the Independent Higher Authority for the elections n°2014-18 of August 4, 2014, relating to the rules and procedures for ca
ndidacy for the presidential elections, already amended under ISIE decision n°18-2019.

Participants in the meeting discussed ways to harmonize it with certain articles of the constitution and the electoral law and with article 30 of the penal code.

The members of the council examined the means of adapting decision n°18 of the ISIE to some articles of the constitution including Article 88 (relating to the religion of the candidate), Article 89 (relating to nationality, age and civil and political rights), Article 90 (relating to the dates of elections), the same source adds.

According to the ISIE, Members of the council also discussed the adaptation of the decision in question to the provisions of Articles 40, 41 and 42 of the electoral law and Article 30 of the penal code, relating to ballot No. 3.

The meeting was also an opportunity to examine several issues linked in particular to the monitoring of vacancy filling operations within local, regional and district councils and to the body’s draft budget for
2025.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: A Takfiri was arrested by the National Guard in Menzel Temime, Nabeul, the Directorate General of the National Guard said on Tuesday.

The Takfiri, sentenced to one year in prison, is wanted by police and judicial authorities.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse