Continuous Coordination Between Tunisia and Algeria to Face Libya Unrest

Tunisia and Algeria have a unified position with regard to the Libyan crisis, Tunisian Foreign Minister, Khamis Al-Djahinawi said.

“Recent visit to Algeria has the primary objective of moving in this direction, and relationships between the two countries are strong.”

Tunisian Echorouk newspaper quoted, on Tuesday, Al-Djahinawi as saying that the two countries’ leaders will exchange ideas and opinions on an ongoing basis about what is happening in Libya, asserting that there is a complete agreement on this issue, and the importance and the need to address it politically.

“Tunisia and Algeria are doing best efforts, in order to reach a political solution in Libya, and help the Libyan parties to resolve its crisis”, expressing the hope that the opponents of the crisis succeed in resolving their problems, and focus on the reconciliation government, which was recently announced and that will be presented to the House of Representatives.

Tunisian diplomatic official pointed to the existence of an Algerian-Tunisian keenness to help this government, on assuming power in Tripoli, and starting the exercise of its functions to address its own issues of concern to Libya, including the question of terrorism, in order to preserve the unity of Libya, warning of any random military intervention that would only disable the political solution.

“Tunisia intends to embrace a meeting of the neighbouring countries in the near future, to conceptualize the deal with the Libyan crisis, and to consider ways and how to help the unity government on the establishment of security and stability in Libya. This meeting would discuss all the crisis scenarios, and determine the positions of the parties from the possibilities of a military intervention in this country.”

With regard to the Tunisian-Algerian relationships, he played down the new “fault” between them, after Tunisia rushed to confirm the presence of dead Algerians in the US bombing on the terrorists’ gathering center in Sabratha last Friday, which was preserved by Algeria via an “official” source that told the national media: “Algeria refuses to pair its name with terrorist activity, and the number of Algerians in ISIS is very little.”

Tunisian minister explained that the relationships are vital and dynamic in various fields that are reflected in the exchange of many visits between the Tunisian and Algerian Ministers in the recent period, to coincide with twentieth session of the Joint Grand Committee, that was held in Algeria in the end of last October. 

He referred in this regard to the meetings that he had with senior officials in Algeria, and which focused on ways of coordination and consultation between the two countries, and expanding cooperation and integration relationships, especially in the areas of economic cooperation and development of the border areas, in order to create safety between the two countries.