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Tunisia: In His Address to the "Union for the Mediterranean" Summit in Paris, President Ben Ali Stresses the Importance of Euro-Med Partnership
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Tunisia Online (Tunis)
13 July 2008
Posted to the web 15 July 2008
Tunis
In his address to the "Union for the Mediterranean" Summit in Paris on Sunday, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali stressed the importance of the "the environmental dimension "in the Mediterranean region in particular, in "ensuring the human right to live in a sound environment".
Noting that Tunisia has always been "in the forefront of countries supporting regional and international initiatives for environmental protection such as the Earth Summit, the Millennium Goals, and the new Euro-Mediterranean initiative for the de-pollution of the Mediterranean", President Ben Ali said that Tunisia "takes note with satisfaction of the growing international awareness about the gravity of the environmental situation", while stressing the need to join efforts to set a joint environmental policy.
The need to develop common programmes with "clear objectives and mechanisms" was further emphasized by the Tunisian President who suggested a number of initiatives to fight pollution and pave the way for a sustainable development in the region. These include:
- The establishment of a Mediterranean Agency for the protection of the environment and the coastline.
- The establishment of a Mediterranean Observatory equipped with an early warning mechanism, to ensure swift and efficient intervention when necessary.
- The adoption, following a German initiative of the "Mediterranean Project for Solar Energy".
- The creation of a Mediterranean Centre of Technology Transfer, particularly as regards alternative and renewable energies, sea water desalination, and nanotechnology.
President Ben Ali further emphasized the need to "materialize the principle of solidarity among our countries. For in the absence of such solidarity our Union will not be able to implement concrete projects that strengthen the ability of the most vulnerable Mediterranean countries to address climate change", adding that, "In our view the Mediterranean can only be a space of solidarity".
He also stressed the "vital role" to be played by civil society components, which he added "prompts us to offer them support and encouragement, and to grant them their due place in our programs and projects".
"Tunisia and the Southern Mediterranean countries confirm their willingness to move ahead in building a common future for all Euro-Mediterranean countries, based on mutual respect, constructive dialogue, reciprocal interests and solidarity -based partnership, as well as a comprehensive approach to sustainable development, in which the ecological dimension is granted all due attention", concluded President Ben Ali.
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At the initiative of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, some 44 Heads of States and governments from the Euro- Med region gathered in Paris for the Summit , which makes it one of the most important political events to take place in the region.
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