President Ben Ali receives US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice
Tunis, September 6, 2008 -- President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali received on Saturday US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. Discussions centered on regional and international issues.
Following her meeting with President Ben Ali, the US Secretary of State said her discussion with the Head of State has been “intensive and very good”.
Evoking Tunisia’s long-standing relations with the United States, she said that “Tunisia is a very good friend of the United States and had been for decades”, adding that “We have a broad cooperation across a range of issues”.
She also said that the meeting focused on the situation in the North African region. “Tunisia, said Mrs Rice, has taken the lead in the Arab Maghreb Union, which we believe is a useful organization for addressing all kinds of issues”.
The US Secretary of State further said that the reform process in Tunisia had been discussed. In this regard, she stressed the progress accomplished by Tunisian women.
“We are good friends and we can have very good and intensive discussions on internal and external issues” adding that “it has been a very good visit”.
On the Tunisian side, the meeting was attended by the Minister of State, Special Advisor to the President of the Republic and official spokesman for the Presidency and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
On the American side, the Under Secretary of State in charge of Near Eastern Affairs and the US Ambassador in Tunis attended the meeting.
