Tunis — The main conference hall of the Beirut Lebanese Press Union played host, on Wednesday, the presentation ceremony of journalist and political analyst George Alam's book: "Ben Ali, Writing History."

The event was attended by Chairman of the Lebanese Press Union Mohamed Baalabaki, Chairman of the Union of Lebanese Editors, Melhem Karam, and a large number of journalists, intellectuals, writers and representatives of Lebanese and Arab media. The chairman of the Lebanese Press Union praised, in his address, the major achievements accomplished in Tunisia, under President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali's leadership, accomplishments, he said, that have touched on all areas and all sectors, benefitted all social classes and all regions.

He commended, in this regard, the strides made by Tunisia on the road of progress and political reform, which are a source of pride for all Arab countries.

President Ben Ali, he added, is the man who has shown devotion to his homeland and his fellow countrymen, and confirmed the freedom of opinion, expression, press and beliefs in his country.

He pointed out that the book "Ben Ali, Writing History" presents a true picture of the progress made by modern Tunisia, under President Ben Ali's leadership.

Mr. Melhem Karam underlined, in turn, that this meeting at the premises of the Lebanese Press Union is a tribute to President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali who has elevated Tunisia to highest levels and made it a leading country that has relations of brotherhood, fraternity, dialogue and co- operation with all countries of the world.

He added that this ceremony is also an expression of fraternity and recognition to modern Tunisia which has incessantly heaped successes in all areas.

He underlined that President Ben Ali is one of the leaders who has better succeeded in developing knowledge and modernising society through vanguard positions. "He is the head of state who has been able to write history and is deeply convinced that only those who forge their own destiny know how to write history," he pointed out.

Introducing the book, journalist Georges Alam pointed out that Tunisia of the Change has managed, under President Ben Ali's leadership, to build over the past 22 years a remarkable political, economic and social experience which started on November 7, 1987 on the basis of a civilisational design which President Ben Ali has been leading with great skills and aptitude to finetune its different components, thanks to a wide popular adherence.

Mr. Alam analysed the exemplary reform approach adopted by President Ben Ali since the Change, underlining that Tunisia managed, despite a difficult world situation, to reap political achievements, consecrate pluralism, democracy and human rights in their most comprehensive acceptation, while making economic gains that earned it honourable rankings in reports of specialised regional and international institutions.

Tunisia, he added, also achieved important social gains which favoured the setting up of a balanced and solidarity- based society which makes the most of a high standard of life and in which the middle class represents the two-thirds of the population.

The Lebanese writer said that Tunisia, this small- sized country and a large one for its achievements and its contribution to the Arab and universal civilisation, could not have earned so much esteem and consideration, on the international scene, had it not been for President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali's prospective and clear-sighted policy.

During the debate that followed the presentation of the book, several Lebanese writers and journalists commended the success of Tunisia's vanguard experience in the economic and political field.

The ceremony was attended by a large number of Lebanese and Arab media from the written and audio-visual press.