7 November 2008
Tunis — In a major address to the Tunisian people on the occasion of the 21 st anniversary of the November 7, 1987 Change, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali said the 2009 presidential and legislative elections will be held in conditions ensuring the fairness and transparency of the vote.
He said that "During the 21 years of continuous reforms, we have accomplished gains and achievements in all fields, thanks to our people's devotion, to their commitment to our choices, programs and orientation, as well as to their strong resolve and great ambition".
The address marking the 21st anniversary of President Ben Ali access to the presidency (www.changement.tn) took place on Friday at the El Menzah indoor sports stadium and was attended by a large cheering crowd.
The elections, President Ben Ali said, "will provide all the necessary conditions to make sure these elections are held within a context of transparency, respect for the law and civic behavior."
In this line of thought, he announced the decision to reinforce the prerogatives of "the president of the Higher Communication Council or his duly appointed representative to assess, the content of the recordings of candidates for the 2009 presidential and legislative elections to make sure they do not include any violations of the legal texts in force".
President Ben Ali also announced his decision to extend the deadline allowed for the Constitutional Council to monitor the results of legislative elections, in order to give more time to the Council to decide on eventual appeals, so as to, "preserve the credibility of the electoral process, while taking into account the specificity of electoral litigation".
Overall , he stressed his commitment "to anchor democracy and pluralism and expand the scope of participation and fostering the role of civil society".
Referring to the various measures taken to promote the media landscape, the Tunisian Head of State said that he considered "ethics to be among the guarantees of freedom and the foundations of democratic behavior".
President Ben Ali reaffirmed in his address, the role of women in "achieving democracy and development". "We are keen to make sure that Tunisian women remain a brilliant illustration of our country's modernity and our people's progress", he said.
A decision to develop specific programs aimed at promoting employment for university graduates, was also announced by the Tunisian President, who further announced a set of measures destined to reinforce the economy and reduce the country's share of classified debts to less tan 10% by 2011.
Concerning the current international economic crisis, President Ben Ali announced the establishment of a Center for financial and monetary research and studies, under the supervision of the Central Bank, to be in charge of monitoring the international situation and issuing suggestions.
In his address, the Head of State renewed Tunisia's call "to activate the World Solidarity Fund, adopted by the United Nations since 2002, to tackle poverty and destitution in the world and reduce disparities among people".
President Ben Ali announced a decision to launch a strategy for the period 2009-2014, that sets future objectives and "offers opportunities for a larger youth participation in associative and political life". Immediately after his speech, a "Youth Pact" was signed by several young representatives from Tunisia's different political parties and social categories. The pact ,which was drafted following months of debates, "honors Tunisia's prestigious history, unifies its energies and guarantees its future", he said.
President Ben Ali said he was pleased to award the November 7 Prize for creativity to the artist- painter, Zoubeir Turki, "in recognition of his pioneering works in the field of plastic arts".
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