22 December 2008
Tunis — In an address delivered on the occasion of the ceremony of accreditation of new foreign Ambassadors to Tunis on Monday, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali reiterated Tunisia's commitment to "the process of democracy and pluralism", as well as the "promotion of human rights and public freedoms".
President Ben Ali said that Tunisia has founded its "civilizational project on a set of values and principles aimed at promoting the human being and achieving comprehensive and sustainable development".
He called for the "establishment of more balanced and solidarity- based international relations", in view of the challenges posed by the current financial crisis that has affected most countries in the world.
Recalling the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2002 of the World Solidarity Fund, following Tunisia's initiative, President Ben Ali said that Tunisia has "persevered in promoting dialogue among cultures, civilizations and religions while rejecting all forms of seclusion and extremism".
He also said that Tunisia has called for proclaiming 2010 a World Youth Year, during which an international conference would be held under the auspices of the UN, in order to adopt a World Youth Pact.
Evoking Tunisia's relations with brotherly and friendly countries at both regional and international levels, President Ben Ali reaffirmed the country's "firm support to the Palestinian people, so that it recovers its legitimate rights", as well as its backing of peace efforts and negotiations based on the initiatives of the Quartet, the Arab Peace Initiative, with the aim of reaching a fair, lasting and comprehensive solution".
He also stressed the importance of enhancing the process of the Maghreb Union as "a strategic and historical aspiration" and highlighted the "advanced level" reached by the Tunisian -European Union relations , as well as Tunisia's efforts "to achieve effective integration within the various Euro-Mediterranean cooperation initiatives."
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