Day: April 22, 2024

Tunis: The first consultative meeting between Tunisian President Kais Saied, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and President of the Presidential Council of Libya Mohamed Younes al-Manfi concluded in Tunis on Monday. Protecting common borders from threats, facilitating the movement of people and goods, boosting intra-trade and establishing joint economic zones between the three countries were the main results of this first consultative meeting between the leaders of Tunisia, Algeria and Libya. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Nabil Ammar, read out the declaration of the Tunis Consultative Summit of Tunisia, Algeria and Libya, according to a video released by the presidency. The three leaders agreed to "form joint working groups to coordinate efforts to protect the security of common borders from the risks and consequences of irregular migration and other manifestations of organised crime, and to develop a participatory development approach to develop these areas," the decla ration said. This is in light of the "challenges and threats faced by the three countries as a result of the ongoing changes in the region and the world and to strengthen various aspects of cooperation and activate joint efforts to enhance the capacity of their peoples to face the consequences of the global economic crisis, particularly in the areas of food, water and energy security". They also agreed to "work towards unifying positions and discourse in dealing with the various countries affected by the phenomenon of irregular migration in the northern Mediterranean and sub-Saharan countries". The leaders of Tunisia, Algeria and Libya also agreed to "form a joint working group to formulate mechanisms to establish joint major projects and investments in priority areas and sectors. These include grain and fodder production, seawater desalination and other projects and cooperation programmes to achieve water and food security for the three countries, including accelerating the activation of the joint mechani sm for the exploitation of shared groundwater in the northern Sahara". They also agreed to accelerate the implementation of the electricity interconnection project between Tunisia, Libya and Algeria, and to develop cooperation and partnerships in the fields of exploration, production and storage of oil resources, mining, renewable and clean energies such as green hydrogen. The three Presidents also agreed to overcome the difficulties hindering the flow of goods and merchandise between the three countries, to explore ways to promote intra-trade and to establish joint free trade zones. They also agreed to accelerate measures to facilitate the movement of people and goods, in particular through the development of road and rail networks and the establishment of a regular maritime link between the three countries. It was also agreed to develop action programmes to promote the various aspects of the common cultural heritage, to strengthen cooperation in the fields of scientific research, vocational training, mo dern technologies, student and youth exchanges, and to encourage the production of joint cultural and educational programmes. At the end of the meeting, it was decided to designate "contact points" from each country to follow up on the implementation of the agreements reached, in preparation for the next consultative meeting, the date and venue of which will be determined by agreement between the leaders of the three countries. Algerian President Tebboune and Libyan President Al-Manfi arrived in Tunisia on Monday at the invitation of President Kais Saied, who had announced during his participation in the seventh summit of the Gas Exporting Countries during his participation in the seventh summit of the Forum of Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Algeria on March 2 that Tunisia would host a trilateral meeting between Tunisia, Algeria and Libya Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: The first consultative meeting between Tunisian President Kais Saied, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and President of the Presidential Council of Libya Mohamed Younes al-Manfi concluded in Tunis on Monday. Protecting common borders from threats, facilitating the movement of people and goods, boosting intra-trade and establishing joint economic zones between the three countries were the main results of this first consultative meeting between the leaders of Tunisia, Algeria and Libya. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Nabil Ammar, read out the declaration of the Tunis Consultative Summit of Tunisia, Algeria and Libya, according to a video released by the presidency. The three leaders agreed to "form joint working groups to coordinate efforts to protect the security of common borders from the risks and consequences of irregular migration and other manifestations of organised crime, and to develop a participatory development approach to develop these areas," the decla ration said. This is in light of the "challenges and threats faced by the three countries as a result of the ongoing changes in the region and the world and to strengthen various aspects of cooperation and activate joint efforts to enhance the capacity of their peoples to face the consequences of the global economic crisis, particularly in the areas of food, water and energy security". They also agreed to "work towards unifying positions and discourse in dealing with the various countries affected by the phenomenon of irregular migration in the northern Mediterranean and sub-Saharan countries". The leaders of Tunisia, Algeria and Libya also agreed to "form a joint working group to formulate mechanisms to establish joint major projects and investments in priority areas and sectors. These include grain and fodder production, seawater desalination and other projects and cooperation programmes to achieve water and food security for the three countries, including accelerating the activation of the joint mechani sm for the exploitation of shared groundwater in the northern Sahara". They also agreed to accelerate the implementation of the electricity interconnection project between Tunisia, Libya and Algeria, and to develop cooperation and partnerships in the fields of exploration, production and storage of oil resources, mining, renewable and clean energies such as green hydrogen. The three Presidents also agreed to overcome the difficulties hindering the flow of goods and merchandise between the three countries, to explore ways to promote intra-trade and to establish joint free trade zones. They also agreed to accelerate measures to facilitate the movement of people and goods, in particular through the development of road and rail networks and the establishment of a regular maritime link between the three countries. It was also agreed to develop action programmes to promote the various aspects of the common cultural heritage, to strengthen cooperation in the fields of scientific research, vocational training, mo dern technologies, student and youth exchanges, and to encourage the production of joint cultural and educational programmes. At the end of the meeting, it was decided to designate "contact points" from each country to follow up on the implementation of the agreements reached, in preparation for the next consultative meeting, the date and venue of which will be determined by agreement between the leaders of the three countries. Algerian President Tebboune and Libyan President Al-Manfi arrived in Tunisia on Monday at the invitation of President Kais Saied, who had announced during his participation in the seventh summit of the Gas Exporting Countries during his participation in the seventh summit of the Forum of Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Algeria on March 2 that Tunisia would host a trilateral meeting between Tunisia, Algeria and Libya Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: President Kais Saied saw off President of the Republic of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune and President of the Presidential Council of Libya, Mohamed Yunus al-Menfi, on Monday evening at the presidential suite of Tunis Carthage International Airport. Algeria's Tebboune and Libya's al-Menfi arrived in Tunisia on Monday at the invitation of President Kais Saied, who had announced during his participation in the seventh summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Algeria on March 2 that a trilateral Tunisian-Algerian-Libyan meeting would be held in Tunisia The first consultative meeting concluded with the reading out of the "Tunis Consultation Summit Declaration of Tunisia, Algeria and Libya" by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Nabil Ammar. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: At the end of the first consultative meeting held in Tunis on Monday at the invitation of President Kais Saied, the leaders of Tunisia, Algeria and Libya stressed the need to unify their positions and consolidate the tradition of consultation on various issues of common interest. In the final statement of the consultative meeting, read out by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Nabil Ammar, and reported in a video released by the Presidency, the three leaders, after frank and constructive consultations, stressed the importance of organising this meeting and maintaining its periodicity in rotation between the three countries. The aim is to raise the excellent bilateral relations that bind each country to a new qualitative level, going beyond the bilateral framework to collective thinking and action, according to the declaration of the meeting. The Tunisian, Algerian and Libyan leaders also underlined their shared awareness of the need to unify their positions and step up c onsultation and coordination in order to strengthen the conditions for security, stability and development throughout the region and increase its resilience. This is especially true in the light of the emergence of successive regional and international changes and developments, the repercussions of which no country can bear alone, and the urgent need for the three countries to have an audible voice and an influential presence in the various regional and international spaces in which they belong. They expressed their full readiness to be open to any honest and sincere political will that shares the same common and constructive priority to advance and enrich this common collective action, deepen understanding and cooperation in the service of security, stability and development in the region and distancing it from the politics of axes and the dangers of foreign interference. The three leaders stressed their countries' adherence to the independence of national decisions, which derive from the will of their pe oples, and their keenness to establish relations with other countries and regional and international groupings within the framework of mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs, while adhering to a multilateral international system that promotes solidarity, justice and fairness in international relations and the equality of all before international law. They also stressed that such consultation and coordination should not be limited to political issues, but should include all areas of economic and social development for the peoples of the three countries, in order to achieve their legitimate aspirations for stability, prosperity and integration. The leaders of Tunisia, Algeria and Libya expressed their total rejection of foreign interference in Libyan affairs and their support for efforts to organise elections aimed at preserving the unity and territorial integrity of the Libyan state and ensuring its security, stability and development. At the same time, they stressed the key role of the neig hbouring countries in supporting the Libyan authorities on the path of stability, security and reconstruction. They also voiced strong condemnation of the war crimes and genocide committed against the Palestinian people, calling for an immediate and permanent halt to the barbaric aggression and the complete lifting of the siege on the Gaza Strip. They also expressed their firm support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate right to establish their independent state with Al-Quds as its capital, and their absolute support for the right of the State of Palestine to full and permanent membership in the United Nations Organisation. The leaders of the three countries warned against the danger of foreign interference in the Sahel-Saharan region, while stressing the need for Arab and African action to assume its responsibility and role in the context of UN efforts to end the suffering of the Sudanese people. They also emphasised the need to further deepen consultations and exchange analyses, assessments and information on the phenomena of terrorism, trafficking in human beings, all types of drugs and organised crime, in order to protect the region from these scourges. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: A ministerial working session held on Monday at the Government Palace in the Kasbah decided to take practical measures to start the actual use of the biometric national identity card and the biometric passport during the first six months of 2025. The decision by the steering committee, comprising the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Communication Technologies and the Ministry of Economy and Planning, came after deliberation and discussion on possible proposals and hypotheses regarding the future technical and logistical path for the issuance of these biometric documents, according to a statement from the Prime Ministry. The participants stressed the need to speed up the selection of the best way to issue the biometric documents so that citizens can benefit from them inside and outside the country's borders, following the approval of Organic Law No. 22 of 2024 and Organic Law No. 23 of 2024 on the Biometric Identity Card and Passport. The ministerial working session to further study the national ID card and biometric passport project, chaired by Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani, was attended by Minister of Interior Kamel Feki, Minister of Finance Sihem Nemsia Boughdiri, Minister of Economy and Planning Feryel Ouerghi Sebai and Minister of Communication Technologies Nizar Ben Neji. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has recommended that all countries adopt these biometric documents by 2026. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse