Horchani: “Close cooperation and security coordination with Algeria is conducted on daily basis

Tunisian Defense Minister, Farhat Horchani, said the cooperation, coordination and exchange of information are being conducted on a daily basis between the Tunisian and Algerian units, in order to address all that could affect the stability of the two brotherly countries, in addition to the existence of joint training programs, exchange of students between the various military schools of the two national armies.

The Tunisian defense minister also affirmed that close military cooperation with Algeria is still going on as part of the struggle against the scourge terrorism and cross-border smuggling.

In a related context, the Tunisian Minister of National Defence, categorically denied the information about the existence in the country of foreign military bases.

The reaction of the Tunisian official comes after the information published by the “Washington Post” reports of the use by the US military of Tunisian soil to launch surveillance drones against positions of “Daesh” extremists in neighboring Libya.

The information spread by the international and local media “are wrong,” he told the press in Gafsa (south), stressed Mr. Horchani, recalling that his country was “among the few countries to oppose military intervention in Libya and to support a political settlement there through an inter-Libyan dialogue.”

“The era of military bases is over. Tunisia is a sovereign country and will not host foreign bases,” assured the minister, whose remarks were reported by the local media.

In an exclusive statement to TAP news agency, Mr. Horchani affirmed that Tunisia has received recently, aircraft and reconnaissance drones as part of a partnership with the US government.

He said that US and German experts are currently studying the process of installing an electronic surveillance system on the southeast border with Libya.