Tunis — "The efficiency of Tunisia's economic approach and its judicious strategies have helped the country to react, with success, in the face of the world financial crisis".

These are by and the large feelings shared by the foreign personalities who took part in the Democratic Constitutional Rally's 21st International Symposium on the theme "Which Global Economic System to Ensure Stability and Development in the World?"

Mr. Jean-Paul Carteron, Swiss expert and chairman of the Crans Montana Forum, highlighted the socio-economic model followed by Tunisia since its Independence, a model which has demonstrated its success thanks to the resistance of the Tunisian economy to both exogenous and endogenous chocks.

He went added that Tunisia has adopted an approach which managed to conciliate the Islamic values and the rules of modern liberalism. It is, according to him, an approach that can but guarantee the country's progress, prosperity and openness onto the outside world. He underlined that Tunisia's economic performances are also justified by the country's placing states on youth and by the priority given to human resources through the special interest taken in education and vocational training.

For his part, Mr. Abbes Zaki, member of the Palestinian "Fatah" Movement's Central Committee, commended President Ben Ali's opening address and the solutions it offers to solve one of the most difficult international crises, reminding that Tunisia remains a country which relies, primarily, on its own resources and its children to onchor the traditions of progress and development.

He pointed out the Tunisian development model which rests the correlation between the social and economic aspects, on the middle class which represent 80% of the population, the contribution of women as full partners and finally on the equitable distribution of national wealth among all social categories and regions.

Mr. Kamel Abou Jabri, Jordanian political sciences Professor and former foreign affairs minister, hailed President Ben Ali's deep vision and analysis in dealing with issues confronting peoples of the planet as a result of the world economic crisis.

He pointed out that the principles of justice and equity in the international relations, proposed by President Ben Ali, and his call that the developing countries be entitled to play a world decision-making role, constitute a platform for the Arab countries to contribute to settling the world economic crisis.

He paid tribute to Tunisia for its moderate policy, its climate of security and stability and its action aiming at promoting the living conditions of its citizens.

"Tunisia is one of the leading countries which are distinctively building its development", said Mr. Bartolomeo Sammartino, President of the National Academy of Politics in Palermo (Italy).

For her part, Mrs. Fiona Ferelith Hodgson, Vice President of the National Conservative Convention and President of the "Conservative Women Organization" (United Kingdom), expressed the view that this symposium is a good start toward the establishment of friendly relations between participating countries from different continents. It is also an opportunity to exchange views to find a means of identifying appropriate solutions to the crisis, she added.