Category: Politics

Tunisia, as part of its unwavering support for the just Palestinian cause, submitted on December 14, 2023 a request for inclusion on the list of States that will present oral arguments before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), on instructions from the President of the Republic. The argument will be prepared by a national authority with competence in international law. The hearings will begin on February 19, 2024 at the headquarters of the International Court of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release on Wednesday. This request falls within the framework of the advisory opinion requested by the General Assembly of the United Nations on the legal consequences of the continued violation by the occupying entity of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, its prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of the Palestinian territory. These include measures aimed at changing the demographic composition, character and status of the Holy City of Al-Quds and the a doption of related discriminatory legislation and measures, as well as the impact of the policies and practices of the Zionist entity on the legal status of the occupation. "This option stems from our country's belief in the symbolism of this opinion, initiated by the most representative body of the United Nations and requested by the main judicial organ of the United Nations," the Foreign Ministry statement said. It also goes beyond the criminalisation of the massacres committed against unarmed civilians in Gaza, regardless of their legal qualification as genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity, to include fundamental and existential issues for the Palestinian people concerning their right to self-determination and the legal status of the occupation. In its arguments, Tunisia will seek to expose the lack of international legitimacy of the occupying entity and its gross violation of the fundamental instruments and principles of international law, in the hope that the ICJ's advisory opinion will lea d to the unveiling of the usurping and colonial face of the occupied entity before the international community, as was the case with the Court's opinion on the separation wall in July 2004. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Tunisia cannot make any concessions to its firm position on the fundamental Palestinian cause and will not budge from it. It remains open and supportive of initiatives, procedures and declarations that do not date the Palestinian cause from October 7, 2023, do not draw parallels between the victim and the perpetrator, and do not condemn resistance. It added that Tunisia will not join any proceedings instituted against the occupying entity before the International Court of Justice, as 'this would be an implicit recognition of this entity.' Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

President Kais Saied presented credentials to two newly appointed Tunisian ambassadors abroad during a ceremony held at the Carthage Palace on Wednesday. They are: - Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia to Romania Sami Nagga. - Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia to the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire Zied SaSdaoui. The two new ambassadors were sworn in before the President of the Republic, in the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Nabil Ammar, according to a presidency press release. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Nabil Ammar met on Wednesday at the ministry's headquarters with Abu Hasanat Mohamed Khairul Bashar, who presented him with a copy of his credentials as the new Ambassador of Bangladesh to Tunisia with residence in Tripoli. On the occasion, the Minister wished the new Ambassador success and assured him of the Ministry's readiness to extend all necessary support to him. The meeting was also an opportunity for the Minister to laud the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries and to stress the importance of their development, especially in the trade and economic sectors. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

President Kais Saied sent a congratulatory message to the President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping on Wednesday, on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In his message, the Head of state underlined the exceptional level of cooperation that binds the two countries, a statement from the Presidency said. The Chinese-Tunisian cooperation has made significant progress in recent years, both bilaterally and multilaterally in regional and international forums, it added. President Saied also stressed Tunisia's commitment to further strengthen the bonds of friendship with China and forge new promising partnerships in various fields, with a view to elevating bilateral relations to the highest level. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

President Kais Saied met with Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani at Carthage Palace on Wednesday afternoon. The meeting reviewed the progress of the government's work in general and a number of draft laws and decrees that were discussed at the last Cabinet meeting, said a statement issued by the Presidency of the Republic. One of the of the most important bills highlighted by the President of the Republic is the one on the eradication of social and financial exclusion, indicating that he had chosen this name this bill instead of integration, because "the desired integration can only be achieved by eliminating the causes of exclusion". In this context, he said, "many of the concepts that have been developed abroad have expired and have only led to further exclusion and marginalisation," and 'unfortunately, there are those in Tunisia who are still using these concepts without looking at their source and without bothering to look at their results.' The President was also quoted as saying 'exclusion is the result of a series of wrong choices and external dictates." He added that integration on the basis of justice and fairness and the social role of the state, cannot be achieved unless "we rely on own capacities and national choices, which come from the will of the people." Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse