“President Ben Ali was among the first leaders to support Mediterranean Union project” says President Sarkozy in interview to Arabic language daily “Al Chourouk”
Tunis , April 27, 2008 (TunisiaOnline) --On the eve of his State visit to Tunisia , France 's President Nicolas Sarkozy “expressed his consideration and support to President Ben Ali as Tunisia has achieved an exemplary economic ad social success”. He also noted that Tunisian -French relations are excellent.
Stressing the fact that an agreement “will be concluded for the first time with a Maghreb country during this visit , on the management and monitoring of emigration”, President Sarkozy said that “this would create job opportunities to in France , by easy and simplified means”.
Insofar as the Mediterranean Union project is concerned, President Sarkozy said that “this idea springs from a conviction that Europe 's future, and that of the southern Mediterranean , are entirely intertwined “. He also commended the efforts of President Ben Ali “who was one of the first leaders to support this project”.
The French President further pointed out that the Mediterranean Union “does not mean the burial of the Barcelona process”. He announced that the Mediterranean Union will be effectively launched during a Summit conference which he will host in Paris on July 13, 2008 , and to which he had “naturally convened President Ben Ali”.
In answer to a question on the situation in the Middle East , President Sarkozy said that during its presidency of the European Union, “ France would focus on the improvement of the future of Palestinians in a tangible manner”.
In relation to a question on France 's Arab and African policy, the French President stressed the fact that it is based “on concrete projects which have a direct impact on people's daily lives”, pointing out in this respect “the innovating partnerships with Arab countries , which France hopes to develop notably in the field of the the peaceful use of nuclear energy”.
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