Brussels, 28/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament delegation for cooperation with the Maghreb held hearings with the ambassador of Tunisia to the EU, Abdessalem Hetira, and the president of the Agadir Agreement standing committee, Ferid Tounsi, on Tuesday 27 May. It also drew up a calendar of events for the rest of the year. Missions are planned to Algeria, Libya and Tunisia and a cultural week will be held in November under the aegis of the European Parliament.
In his speech, the Tunisian ambassador highlighted his country's commitment to dialogue with the European Union. “Tunisia is in the heart of the Mediterranean and the Mediterranean is at the heart of its history,” he said, recalling its achievements in the economic and trade cooperation areas, in combating poverty and promoting human rights, “real rights and not just on paper”, he stressed. In response to Pasqualina Napolitano (PES, Italy), Hetira said that campaigning had now started for the forthcoming presidential and legislative elections and that observers will be allowed if they restrict themselves to that role and do not behave like political activists.
In his speech, Tounsi then spoke of the origins of the Agadir Agreement and its mission in “south-south” regional integration. (F.B.)