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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, 08 August 2005
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Your Excellencies, Ambassadors and Heads of Consular Missions,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my distinct pleasure to meet with you today at the closing of the proceedings of your annual conference. We are indeed keen on ensuring the regular holding of this conference, as part of our constant attention to the role entrusted to the Tunisian diplomacy, and the importance we attach to assessing its activities and enhancing its performance, in such a way as to keep up with the changes taking place in the world, serve our national interests, and reinforce Tunisia's position and influence in the world.
I have closely followed your proceedings which we have chosen this year to focus on two main themes : the first addresses the ways and means whereby to achieve a higher level of integration for our country within its international environment; the second deals with the situation of Tunisians abroad whom we consider as a civilizational bridge and a source of support for development.
The success our country has achieved in the political, economic, social and cultural fields, and the important steps it has made in its cooperation and partnership with sisterly and friendly countries, in addition to the confidence and respect it enjoys on the international scene, constitute for us the best stimulant to effectively achieve integration within our regional and international environment.
As a contribution to finding appropriate solutions to a number of issues facing international public opinion, we were among the first to call for the establishment of a contract for peace and progress between the countries of the North and of the South, and to draw attention to the need to combat the manifestations of terrorism and extremism and tackle their root causes, as well as to further promote cooperation and solidarity among all countries and peoples.
These efforts of ours have been met with a positive response from the United Nations Organization which adopted our proposal for the establishment of a World Solidarity Fund, as well as from the international community which approved our call for the holding of a World Summit on the Information Society.
As our country prepares to host the second phase of this Summit next November, we look forward for this important global event as a propitious opportunity to look into the ways and means whereby to establish channels of cooperation and partnership in the fields of knowledge and sciences, and to enable developing countries to master the modern information and communication technologies and acquire the ability to make best use of them in their development plans.
Based on our constant determination to establish a world order founded on justice and solidarity, we hope that the international community will be able to establish new foundations for reforming and restructuring the United Nations Organization, taking into consideration the changes that have taken place on the international scene, so that this Organization can pursue assuming its role in consolidating the foundations of peace, stability and development in the world.
On our part, we are determined to move ahead in promoting the forms of cooperation with the various UN bodies and specialized international institutions, in order to confer on our economy further efficiency allowing it to achieve integration within the world economy, in line with the orientations we have set for our country during the coming stage.
It is indeed a source of satisfaction for us that the results achieved at the economic and social levels in Tunisia match the objectives set by the Millennium Summit, especially as regards reducing the poverty rate, improving the GDP, offering education to all, enhancing gender equality, promoting reproductive health, and integrating the principles of sustainable development within national policies. We have managed to achieve these objectives thanks to our constant endeavor to materialize the sought balance between the requirements of economic welfare and those of social development.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Tunisia is stepping into a new stage in its relations with the European Union, following the positive results achieved by the Association Agreement our country signed with this grouping in 1995.
We have been keen to make sure this partnership is based on the preservation of common interests as well as on the principles of constructive dialogue and balanced cooperation, within a context of mutual respect, and with the purpose of allowing Tunisia to achieve better integration within the Euro-Mediterranean space.
On that basis, we have adopted a plan of action with the EU Commission, as part of the European Neighborhood policy, hoping for a deeper Tunisian-European partnership, especially as regards the reinforcement of commercial exchanges, the acceleration of the pace of investments, the promotion of exchanges in the fields of services and the movement of persons, and the intensification of the Tunisian participation in the European scientific and technological programs.
We are also endeavoring to enhance coordination with the countries of the Euro-Mediterranean area, in order to give the necessary impetus to the Barcelona Process which, in our view, and ten years after its launching, needs a new dynamics that can reinforce the position of this space within the world's regional groupings.
Regarding the Arab Maghreb Union, Tunisia will pursue, with determination, its endeavors to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and complementarity, and to consolidate the relations of cooperation and solidarity, among the Maghreb peoples. It will intensify its efforts to activate joint Maghreb action and to transcend the difficulties impeding its progression.
At the Arab level, we will pursue our endeavors, in conjunction with our brothers the Leaders of the Arab countries, to confer further efficiency on joint Arab action in all fields, and to enhance the process of promotion, modernization and development in the Arab world, in accordance with the approach adopted during the Tunis Summit.
Tunisia will also pursue its active contribution to the international efforts aimed at enabling the brotherly Palestinian people to recover its legitimate rights and establish its independent State. In this context, we reiterate our call to the Quartet members so that they provide best conditions for the establishment of just, durable and comprehensive peace in the region, on the basis of the resolutions of international legality, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the implementation of the Roadmap.
On the other hand, we hope that the brotherly Iraqi people will manage to recover its security and stability, within a context of consensus and national unity, so that it can devote its efforts to rebuilding its institutions and reconstructing its country.
Tunisia's relations with the African countries have witnessed a sustainable growth, materialized through the results of the fruitful cooperation we have established with these countries. We are keen on exploring further prospects for this cooperation and on enlarging its scope.
While expressing our appreciation of the results achieved by the African Union Summit recently held in Syrte in sisterly Libyan Jamahiriya, we cherish the hope that these results will constitute a fresh start to joint African action, in such a way as to help establish security and stability in our Continent, and materialize its peoples' aspirations for development and prosperity.
On the other hand, we have endeavored to strengthen our relations of friendship and cooperation with all countries of the American continent, and to promote them to the level of solidarity-based partnership, premised upon our awareness of the importance of enlarging the network of Tunisia's partners, benefiting from the opportunities offered by the fields of scientific and technological cooperation with these countries, and identifying the means available therein, in order to promote common investments and intensify commercial and tourist exchanges.
We are also working to consolidate the bonds of friendship with the Asian countries and to enlarge the scope of cooperation with them, as part of a strong and varied economic partnership that serves the interests of all parties and materializes the common aspirations for the achievement of security, peace and prosperity in the world.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our country has made large strides in achieving integration within the global economy, and is indeed capable of reaching higher levels of cooperation, partnership and complementarity with all regional and international groupings.
This requires that you step up action and effort in order to reinforce Tunisia's integration within these spaces, and make best use of all fields of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, in order to serve our national interests and enrich our country's development process.
The deep changes occurring in our world today in all fields, and the sharp competition existing at all levels, requires us to rely, in the first place, on ourselves, on our own means and human resources, and on our national structures and institutions in their various specializations, in order to serve our country and defend its interests.
In this regard, I exhort you to modernize your working methods and to intensify and diversify your actions in your countries of accreditation, in order to establish friendships, enrich relations, and seize all opportunities offered to you to make known Tunisia and its achievements and gains, and to explain its positions vis-à-vis the various international issues.
Moreover, you are called upon, as part of your missions, to accord a greater importance to economic diplomacy, in order to explore further opportunities for the marketing of Tunisian products, attract foreign investments, enhance technical cooperation, open up wider prospects for the employment of Tunisian cadres abroad, and take all possible initiatives to sustain our development efforts.
I also exhort you to offer all due care and attention to our communities abroad, and to follow up the instructions we have given for the promotion and acceleration of the services provided to them, in order to improve their conditions of residence and work and facilitate their integration within their countries of residence, by offering them the necessary social and cultural care, protecting their rights, and deepening their sense of pride in belonging to their country.
We have included within our Program for Tomorrow's Tunisia the subject of Tunisians abroad whom we consider a bridge for civilizational communication between Tunisia and the countries of residence. We have worked to enable Tunisians abroad to exercise their right to vote and to be represented in the Chamber of Advisors we have recently established to consolidate the institutions of the republican system and enlarge the democratic process.
I recommend that you work to make sure the social dimension constitutes a constant element in our relations with the European Union, based on our comprehensive approach to the partnership with this grouping; for we attach a great importance to the conditions of Tunisians residing in the countries of the Union, and are keen on preserving their dignity and protecting their interests.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are aware of the importance of the conditions and means required by diplomatic action, which we have always worked to provide. We hope the measures recently taken will improve your working conditions abroad, which will help you accomplish your missions in the best way possible.
While appreciating the honorable mission you assume in the service of your country, and while commending the efforts you exert in your diplomatic work, I am convinced that you are deeply aware of the challenges and stakes facing our country, and which we have to meet. You are also called upon to show constant vigilance and a high sense of initiative and diligence, so that you can contribute to making known Tunisia's gains and achievements on the path of modernity, democratic construction and comprehensive development, and draw to it maximum benefits and contributions that serve its interests, make its image even more radiant, and further elevate its status.
Thank you for your attention.