Brussels, 08/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - Tunisia has welcomed the proposal, by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, for a union of countries on the Mediterranean rim, said Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in a speech on 7 November, celebrating the 20th anniversary of his coming to power. “We renew our willingness to help define this project and its objectives,” he said. He restated, however, the “strategic importance” of relations between Tunisia and the EU. “We are preparing to join a free trade area at the start of 2008” and this will make Tunisia “the first country from the southern rim to achieve this advanced level of partnership with the EU,” he added. Customs duties will be removed from that date, he went on to say, and he stated that “today, Tunisia is an emerging country looking to the future with confidence and assurance”. (F.B.)