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Speech by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali at the closing of the annual
conference of the Heads of Diplomatic and Consular missions

Carthage, August 6, 2004

In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate

Honorable Ambassadors and Heads of Consular Missions,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

We close today the proceedings of your annual conference which we have been keen to make sure it is held on a regular basis, in view of the important role vested in our embassies and consular missions in making known Tunisia's policy and options, strengthening its relations with all sisterly and friendly countries, and upholding its process of development in all fields.

We have closely followed the proceedings of your conference which we have chosen this year to focus on an important theme, namely "The priorities of the Tunisian diplomacy in the coming period", as part of the prospection of our future plans at the Arab, Mediterranean and international levels, and our continuous contribution to all that can consolidate the relations of entente, cooperation and solidarity in the world.
It is within this context that come our endeavors to provide propitious conditions for our country's hosting of the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society on November 16-18, 2005, a summit we had called, in 1998, for its holding in order to narrow the widening digital divide between the industrialized nations and the developing countries, and to establish an international knowledge-based society offering better opportunities for all countries to benefit from this vital sector.

We also endeavor, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), to make sure the high-level committee, which will hold its first meeting during the weeks to come, manage to operationalize the World Solidarity Fund, so that it can start accomplishing its noble missions, in line with the objectives set by the Millennium Summit.

On the international scene, the aggravation of the terrorist danger requires, more than ever before, that the efforts of the international community be coordinated, within the framework of the United Nations Organization, in order to stand against this phenomenon. Today, we reiterate our call for a radical treatment of the root causes of this phenomenon, by working to reduce the propagation of poverty, marginalization, exclusion and deprivation, and by acting promptly to find fair solutions to a number of pending issues in the world.

At the Arab level, the results of the Arab Summit hosted by Tunisia in May 2004 expressed the Arab States' aspiration to build a new stage of joint Arab action, in all political, economic, social and cultural fields. The Tunis Summit has also confirmed the determination of the community of Arab States to integrate within the process of comprehensive reform, development and modernization, to consolidate the foundations of democracy, to preserve human rights, to promote women's role and status within the family and within society, and to consecrate openness on the other, while being committed to the common universal principles on the one hand, and while preserving our own specificities on the other hand, so that our Arab Nation can regain the place it deserves in the universal civilization.

The Tunis Summit has also reaffirmed its commitment to the fair, comprehensive and durable peace as a strategic choice to settle the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the basis of international legality and the relevant Security Council resolutions.

By renewing their call for the elaboration of a new concept for cooperation and solidarity-based partnership with all the countries of the world, the Arab States have also reaffirmed their determination to consolidate dialogue among cultures and civilizations, and to materialize the values of tolerance and coexistence among all individuals, communities and peoples.

We have undertaken, in our capacity as Chairman of the Arab Summit, and in conjunction with our brothers the Leaders of Arab States, to materialize these noble objectives through the implementation of the Summit resolutions.

We will pursue our action, within the framework of the League of Arab States, in support of the international efforts aiming to preserve the national unity of Iraq and to respect its sovereignty and independence, in such a way as to ensure the establishment of security and stability on its territory and to allow the brotherly Iraqi people to be devoted to the reconstruction of its country.

On the other hand, we will intensify our endeavors to materialize the objectives set by the Arab Summit in terms of reforming the system of joint Arab action and promoting the Arab economic action, especially as regards bringing to completion the great pan-Arab free-trade zone, and improving the performance of the concerned Arab bodies, in addition to the need to grant further care and attention to social cooperation among the Arab countries.

We will endeavor, within the framework of the Arab Maghreb Union, to strengthen the bonds of fraternity and complementarity, and to enrich the relations of cooperation and solidarity, among our peoples, in such a way as to give the hoped-for impetus to our joint Maghreb action and materialize our peoples' aspiration for solidarity and unity.

At the Euro-Mediterranean level, we have managed, in conjunction with our brothers the Leaders of Maghreb States and our European partners in the Western Mediterranean basin, to dynamize the 5+5 space. The Dialogue Summit that brought together these countries in Tunis in December 2003 constituted a landmark event in the region, and a new turning point in the process of cooperation and solidarity-based partnership among its countries. We aspire, as part of our relations with the European Union, for the consolidation and development of the Tunisian-European partnership, on the basis of solidarity, complementarity and mutual respect.

At the African level, we will keenly pursue our contribution to establishing the structures of the African Union, to consolidating the foundations of security and stability in our Continent, and to opening up wider prospects for cooperation and economic complementarity among African countries, in such a way as to enable our Union to integrate within the process of development and progress and to establish active economic partnership with all regional groupings in the world.

Our country also works to promote the relations of cooperation it has established at the bilateral level with the countries of the American and Asian continents, relations which have been strengthened by our recent meetings with some Leaders of these friendly countries. The aim is to widen the circle of our economic partners and establish other forms of international cooperation, particularly the forms of triangular cooperation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

One of the most imperative priorities of the Tunisian diplomatic action during the period to come consists in optimizing the coordination of efforts among the various frameworks of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, which will help integrate our national economy within the various regional and international economic groupings, and will, accordingly, serve our interests and support our country's development process.

I am convinced that you will spare no effort to find the most adequate methods to promote the role of economic diplomacy which constitutes an important supportive element for our development policy. For that reason, I exhort you to make economic cooperation a permanent element in your tasks, and to give it priority, so that you can actively contribute to reinforcing our relations of cooperation and partnership with your respective countries of accreditation, and explore further opportunities and means to make known the Tunisian products, attract foreign investments, and facilitate the exchange of visits between Tunisian and foreign investors and businessmen. We consider action in this field a crucial indicator whereby to measure the degree of success of our diplomatic and consular missions.

Having said this, I also would like to stress the great responsibility vested in you toward your country, to make known its options and orientations as well as its achievements and gains in all fields, and to work to elevate its status, make its voice heard, consolidate its image, reinforce its influence and defend its interests, using the most modern means and the most efficient methods.
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The presidential and legislative elections, which we are preparing to hold in October 2004, constitute an important national landmark to reinforce the foundations of the Republic of Tomorrow and to consolidate democracy and political pluralism.

We reaffirm, on this occasion, the important role vested in our diplomatic and consular missions to contribute to the success of this important national event, so that it can reflect our people's maturity and eligibility to a developed political life.

As part of our constant determination to preserve the interests of our communities abroad and to further strengthen their relations with the mother country, we reiterate the instructions we gave to the administrative authorities and the diplomatic and consular missions, to make sure the presidential elections are held, in the polling stations available for Tunisians living abroad, in the best conditions and in a context of transparency.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are stepping into a crucial phase in the process of national edification, reform and modernization, based on our renewed determination to offer the conditions of progress and well-being for our people, and of glory and invulnerability for our country, thanks to the joined efforts of all Tunisian men and women inside the country and abroad.

While commending the work you carry out in this regard and the honorable mission you are assuming, I exhort you to exert further effort and action and to show further devotion in the service of Tunisia and for the elevation of its status among the nations of the world.

May God grant you success !
Thank you for your attention.

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