Ben Gueran attackers wanted to target Algeria as well, says Tunisia foreign minister

Tunisia’s former foreign minister Tayeb Bekkouche said the terrorist attack on the town of Ben Guerdan “targets the post-Revolution Tunisian experience.” “The attackers target Tunisia’s positions towards issues in the region. Tunis is the weakest part in it,” he told Echorouk in an interview.

How do you analyse the unprecedented terrorist attack in in the town of Ben Guerdan?

I believe that the terrorist attack is a response to the US military operation in the town of Sebrata in Libya. Operating groups on borders wanted to reach Tunisia to target it and Algeria.

Now, there is a transformation in terrorism because all the region is in a war against it. What helped terrorists in carrying out the Ben Guerdan attack and other operations in Libya is arms and money.

Tunisia announced that it rejects western military action in Libya and refused to describe Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Will Tunisia pay the price of its positions in the region?

I do not want to talk about hypothesis neither intentions. Yet, I notice that Tunisia is targeted due to its revolution experience. It has an exceptional positions about what is happening in Libya and Syria. Because of that, I say that it is targeted. It is the weakest part and terrorism seeks popular support. This did not and would never happen.

You talked about a danger on Algeria and Tunisia. You call for security coordination with Algeria. Were you satisfied about cooperation level with Algeria?

As I was Tunisia’s foreign minister, I say that relations between the two countries are excellent either in political or security level. When I visited Algiers and was received by my friend minister Ramtane Lamamra and President Bouteflika, I felt deep friendship and brotherhood.