Syria and Tunisia: joint care for maintaining remarkable relations

At the invitation of President Zein al-Abidin Bin Ali, President Bashar al-Assad today holds a visit to Tunisia. Al-Assad's visit to Tunisia comes following a series of meetings and exchanged visits between the two states' officials.

The recent visit was the one made by the Syrian prime minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro on top of a high ranking official delegation in January 2001 to Tunisia. During that meeting the third session of the Syrian- Tunisian joint higher committee was held and several memorandum of understanding and agreements were held in the areas of investment, energy, the environment, sport, education, health and civil aviation were held.

Thanks to Tunisia's remarkable position among other Arab states, Syria seeks to deepen and consolidate these relations with it especially on the economic and political areas to withstand international and regional developments.

Worthy mentioning that Tunisia, since its independence in 1956 had witnessed a breakthrough towards attaining social and political stability. The march of change and modernization has been deepened after President Zein al-Abidin Bin Ali assumed power in Tunisia in 1988.

Since his first days in power President Bin Ali defined priorities for Tunisia's progress so as to consolidate the basics of the society of social integration and justice on the ground of making reforms in the sectors of the economy, politics and culture.

In the economic field, concentration was made on the reforms and restructuring of the national economy and encouraging of investment through ensuring legal atmospheres for that and promoting natural and human resources. This was positively reflected in the sectors of industry, agriculture, education, health, housing and social services.

As a result Tunisia could attain a growth of 5% average and the per capita income increased from 952 Tunisian dinar in 1986 to 2641 dinar in 1999 ( each Tunisian dninar is 75% of USD).

Despite the escalated debating problem at the international level, Tunisia has succeeded in alleviating its debts and in recent years has become an example to be followed in international and financial establishments, due to its success in the structural reforms programs of its economy. Tunisia could attract investments from the European, the Arab Gulf and Japan, and the US groups, and these investments were either direct or in the context of Tunisian partnership with other sides. Such investments were encouraged by Tunisia's geographic location which is close to Europe besides the new legislation which availed numerous privileges and exempts and taxation, all measures they provide the proper atmospheres.

Tunisia, moreover, has laid a program to help people in need and the poor. These programs include the National Solidarity Fund especially in less " fortunate " areas at the initiative of President Bin Ali in 1993.

This Fund supplies public and private contributions. In light of the great success realized by this Fund in fighting poverty a new Fund was established in 2000 which is the national Fund for labor opportunities, called Fund 21- 21 with the aim of creating more job opportunities.

The Tunisian leadership has given special interest to the sector of education. Some 20% of the state's general budget was provided to this sector. Besides being for free, education in Tunisia is compulsory in all its phases for all children until the age of 16 for boys and girls.

As for the internal political life, Tunisia has given great interest to democracy and pluralism. Parties and societies which contribute to political activities have become active. The national charter was formed to be an expression of a new phase of pan- political reforms which have been taking place in Tunisia since 1988.

President Bin Ali permitted the providing the legal licensing of several new parties. He called on the seven main parties to join the representatives of the trade unions, the vocational organizations, the human rights league and the peasants union, the national union of women and the Bar association. The national charter was declared in 1989 and then free multilateral elections were declared in 1989, 1994 and 1999. President Bin Ali was re-elected for a third term of office of five years in 1999 for the first time in the history of the country in which three candidates took part.

As for the foreign policy Tunisia, in its international relations embarked on pursuing a moderate and balanced policy based on the principles of the UN charter and the international legitimacy and contributed to peace operations in several countries in the world.

Tunisia, moreover, is giving special interest to building the Arab Maghreb and maintaining its economic integration. It views the " Arab Maghreb federation as a strategic option that should be revitalized and reactivated in these conditions which witness the establishment of major international and regional blocs and aggregations."

At the African level, Tunisia has been always working to improve and develop its cooperation relations with the African states at the bilateral relations level or through collective work structures, like the Organization of African Unity or the gathering of "the coasts and desert states" and others.

Above all, Tunisia gives top priority to its Arab affiliation. It always stresses care on the national dimension in its policies through her support to the Arab central cause of Palestine and backing for the restoration of Arab rights and maintaining just and comprehensive peace in the region according to international legitimacy resolutions.