“May I pay tribute to the Council of Europe for the precious support it has given to Tunisia in this period of democratic transition, and for its commitment to accompanying us in implementing constitutional arrangements and the process of reforming Tunisia’s institutional and legal frameworks,” said Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui, addressing PACE today.
The Foreign Minister said his country had shown a “pioneering spirit in the Arab world” in beginning the alignment of its legal and institutional framework with that of the Council of Europe. The organisation’s help was “highly appreciated”, he said, whether it involved the creation of new governance bodies, reform of the justice system, the fight against corruption, the consolidation of press freedom, combating violence against women or protecting children against sexual abuse.
The Minister also cited support provided by specialised Council bodies such as the Venice Commission and CEPEJ.
Mr Jhinaoui said his country had always looked to Europe as an “port of anchorage” and aspired to follow the continent’s model of modern, democratic society, “a model of a just, free and prosperous society”.
