Tunis — Tunis, November 3, 2008 - In an address read in his name by the Prime Minister, Mr Mohamed Ghannouchi, on the occasion of the 20 th Democratic Constitutional Rally (RCD) Symposium, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali said that "Development and democracy are indissociable".

The two- day RCD Symposium (November 3-4) which is held on the theme "Political Participation in a Changing World", is currently taking place in Gammarth, North of Tunis, in the presence of large number of Heads of local and foreign political parties, cabinet members, senior officials and international political personalities, such as the former Mauritanian President Mr Ely Vall, and the former Spanish Prime Minister, Mr Jose Maria Aznar.

In his address, President Ben Ali stressed Tunisia's strong political heritage from Carthage to the 19 th century reform movement and the 1861 constitution, noting that "determination to preserve and enrich this heritage, was our starting point in achieving the November 7, 1987 Change.. as such, we have embraced the choice of democracy, pluralism and respect of Human Rights in their wide and comprehensive meanings".

Evoking the notion of political participation today, as well as the decision he announced last year to lower the voting age from 20 to 18, President Ben Ali said that "large political participation is a sign of a society's progress and a people's dignity and freedom. It is also a prerequisite for achieving objectives and aspirations", adding that "we believe that political parties have a fundamental role to play in this connection".