19/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - The Committee for the Respect of Freedoms and Human Rights in Tunisia (CRLDH) has protested in a press release about the arrest of one of the members of the standing liaison committee which the Socialist group in the European Parliament plans to set up to ensure the monitoring of political development in Tunisia. Lotfi Hajji was arrested without any official reason being given according to the CRLDH. Mr Hajji is the president of the Tunisian journalists' trade union (SJT). In a press release, the PES group calls for Mr Hajji's “unconditional release” and points out that the EU-Tunisia association agreement requires, inter alia, that the rules of democracy, human rights and freedom of expression be respected. Reiterating their commitment to continuing constructive dialogue with forces for democracy in Tunisia, the Socialists “call on the authorities to cooperate so that the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, scheduled for March (in Tunis) is a great success”. (fb)