Tunis, 24/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - During a visit to Tunis on 17 and 19 of September, Bernardino Léon, special representative for the Mediterranean of High Representative of the EU for Roreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, met the main leaders of the political parties in Tunisia, which is now plunging the depths of a serious political crisis. Léon did attempt to advocate conciliation between the different parties but his efforts appear to have had little effect because shortly after his visit, the situation became even more fraught.
On 20 September Léon stated that, “the EU is closely following developments in the current political crisis in Tunisia”. He provided assurances that the EU, “has not spared any effort to listen to and understand the different perceptions of the main stakeholders in the political life of the country”.
Four organisations from civil society: the powerful workers' trade union the UGTT, the UTICA, representing the country's business leaders, the Tunisian League of Human Rights and the association representing lawyers, had taken the initiative to reach consensus on a swift crisis-exit strategy, namely, the dismissal of the government and its replacement by a non-politically partisan technocratic team, which would focus on three different areas: security, emergency economic measures and ensuring that the next presidential and general elections were held in appropriate conditions. Although the democratic opposition was quick to accept this “roadmap”, the three parties in government, particularly the “Islamist” Ennahdha movement, were playing for time and at every opportunity would introduce conditions for their agreement that left this agreement devoid of substance and gave rise to doubts about their real intentions. This effectively led to the “quartet” of intermediaries on Saturday having to take a tougher stance in which it accused the party of the prime minister of unacceptable political manoeuvrings.
“In this context, the EU has acknowledged and analysed civil society's initiative to resolve the political crisis. It appears appropriate to constitute a reasonable proposal and at the very least, create a basis for dialogue with very promising potential”. The EU “is therefore calling on all the different stakeholders on the political scene in the country to return to the negotiating table in as constructive spirit as possible and in the perspective of swiftly obtaining consensus in the country”.
León explained that “the success of this national dialogue will indeed mark an historic step in Tunisia's democratic transition, which the EU greets wholeheartedly. Moving on from this stage will constitute the most effective benchmark for further enhancing cooperation between the European Union and a peaceful Tunisia that is determined to move forward” (our translation throughout). (FB/transl.fl)