The meeting provided the opportunity to review the means to boost the Euro- Mediterranean process and reinforce cooperation between the peoples of the region. The French Secretary of State expressed his admiration for the progress Tunisia is living through, stressing that France supports Tunisia’s candidacy for advanced EU partnership.

The meeting also reviewed means to ensure the success of the second summit meeting of the 5+5 group due to be held next year in Malta.

The concert is due to take place on September 3, 2010 at the Tunis Municipal Theatre as part of the 28th edition of the Tunis Medina Festival.

During a press conference held on Tuesday at the Japanese Embassy in Tunis, Walid Gharbi hailed the opportunity to play alongside Yosuke Yamashita, who is playing for the first time in an Arab country.

The concert is organized within the framework of the Tunisian-Japanese cultural cooperation.

The Japanese artist continues to surprise his fans worldwide with his boundless creativity and unique style. In 1973, he played on a burning piano on a beach, a scene that he reproduced 20 years later.

Musical concerts given by bands from Tunisia, Brazil, Italy, Switzerland, Japan, Austria, Spain, France, and Netherlands will be held during the event.

Since its inception 16 years ago, the festival has been characterized by its eclecticism and musical diversity. With 16 concerts displaying different musical genres such as classical, baroque, romantic and contemporary music, the event is sure to appeal to broad spectrum of music lovers.

The Minister urged the members of the delegation  to focus their teachings  on the values of moderation, tolerance and the principles of dialogue and peaceful cohabitation “which are among the main specificities of  Islam”, he said.

Nine companies are currently taking part in the Frankfurt “Trend” exhibition where Tunisian handicraft products, particularly olive wood, ceramics, copper, mosaics, wrought iron and textiles, are showcased.

Six other Tunisian handicrafts companies specialized in textiles, blown glass, copper, jewelry and traditional costumes, will take part in the “Maison et Objets” exhibition held from September 3 to 7 in Paris.

The National Handicrafts Board (ONA) will also take part in the “Macef”  exhibition, an international house show specialized in handicrafts, internal decoration and gift items to be held from September 9 to 12 in Milan.

President Ben Ali praised the Council’s efforts, as well as its contribution to enhance Tunisia’s position in the areas of competition law and policies within its regional and international environment.

The President of the Republic emphasized the need to capitalize on the advantages offered by Tunisia’s business environment in order to increase the volume of national and foreign investments. He recommended to promote quality and thus boost the national economy’s competitiveness.

Dr. Donald Kaberuka was re-elected for a second term (2010-2015) at the helm of the AfDB.

Governors representing member countries, officials of the Group’s Board of Directors and senior executives, as well as members of the diplomatic corps attended the event.

Mr. Ghannouchi extended the warmest congratulations of the President of the Republic and the Tunisian government to Dr. Donald Kaberuka for his brilliant re-election at the head of the Bank, noting that the AfDB President had  “managed to consolidate the recovery that was started by his predecessor and amplify its scope.”

He expressed Tunisia’s commitment to support the Bank so that it discharges successfully its mission.

The Prime Minister also paid tribute to the dedication and high competence of the Bank’s staff, noting that AfDB is now a major player in Africa’s development.

He added that the AfDB is a strong, healthy and credible institution enjoying an international stature. This is shown in its keeping its AAA rating in this period of financial upheavals, access to capital markets, implementation of programs and responsiveness of the bank facing the financial crisis that shook the economy of the world.

AfDB has implemented large-scale support programs to assist African countries hit by the world crisis to preserve some of their investment dynamics and job creation.

The Prime Minister hailed this institution’s international standing, expressing confidence in AfDB’s ability to move forward and further support the African economies.

Mr. Ghannouchi said that despite the efforts and gains made, the continent continues to face formidable challenges in improving populations’ revenues and well-being.

“To meet these challenges,” he added, “the African countries are called to step up reform and restructuring programs.”

Mr. Ghannouchi called to invest more and better in human resources’ training to have the needed high skills and develop infrastructure in matters of transport, telecommunications, power and water mobilization while preserving environment.

It is necessary, he underlined, to iron out obstacles impeding intra-African exchanges and speed up establishment of strong partnerships between African countries and between the continent and the rest of the world.

These are priorities that require mobilization of significant capitals at appropriate conditions, hence the importance of the support to be brought by financial institutions, first and foremost AfDB, the prime minister underlined.

Mr. Ghannouchi added that Tunisia, under President Ben Ali’s leadership, is convinced of the necessity of this approach. It is fully resolved to create the required conditions to achieve the objectives of the new stage as part of its 12th Plan, relying in this on the Bank’s support.

After his swearing in, Dr. Kaberuka underlined, in his inauguration speech, that he appreciates “the true worth” of the hospitality Tunisia’s Government and people offer to the Bank and its staff since its temporary relocation in Tunis.

He praised the support enjoyed by the Bank from member countries, underlining that the Bank’s strategic guidelines remain the same.

They provide, he said, for deepening regional integration, developing the private sector and infrastructure, particularly energy, promoting skills, especially technical and scientific ones, good governance and support to vulnerable States.

Dr. Kaberuka pointed out that climate change and its effects on energy and food security are a special challenge for the continent. He also stressed the need to adjust to the new world economic context seeing that traditional partners of the AfDB have opted for budget restrictions and difficult economic choices.

AfDB president called to make the most of opportunities created by the structural changes taking place in the global economy to help Africa reap its fruits, and not being only a mere provider of raw materials.

Mr. Fernando Teixeira Dos Santos, Chairman of the Governors’ Board, emphasized the need to continue restructuring efforts led by the Bank, stressing the success of the Bank’s projects in the past years.

(Source TAP)

The Prime Minister and the delegation accompanying him were seen in by Mr. Abdelkabir el Fakhiri, Secretary of the Libyan General People’s Committee for Education and Scientific Research, and Mr. Slaheddine Jemmali, Tunisia’s High Representative to the Arab Libyan Jamahirya.

In his message, the Head of State reaffirms Tunisia’s commitment to carry on joint action in order to strengthen friendship relations between the two countries, develop bilateral co-operation and extend its fields for the welfare and benefit of the two friendly peoples’ interests.