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Tunisia PM to Echorouk:”Police couldn't remain indifferent towards riots”

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Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali

Tunisia Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali spoke about the events of Siliana which were ignored by the Tunisian media, and the implication of government in the use of spray weapons. He also regrets the damages that were incurred by the state, estimated to 28 million dinars because of the protests.

Jibali commented on the recent decisions of Moursi, and the membership of Palestine as an observer, and criticized the Tunisian opposition, and detected the most important projects that were proposed by Sellal in this interview with Echorouk at Aurassi Hotels, on the sidelines of his visit to Algeria.

* What are the most important projects that you discussed in your meeting with the Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal?

– We talked about projects at all levels, and the meeting was not limited only in economic projects, we talked about the political and security projects, customs and borders, and this is very important, especially the recent events of the region. Tunisia and Algeria, are seeking a strong coordination and coherence of all efforts, and of course there is no security approach, but we must move forward in other social, economic and commercial approaches, especially on the borderline.As you know, the border areas are poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged, even though they have large capabilities, especially as they are close to the Algerian borders, therefor we should continue to promote these areas and in the two sides on an integrated basis.In fact, we found all the support and expertise for the requirements of these areas from both sides, and we seek to bring about this cooperation by establishing rail and highway projects rail, and link these areas with electricity and gas, I can confirm that we have found a large will in this area, for the completion of projects and the payment of investment from both sides, to facilitate the task of business to let things evolve.

*You were accompanied in this visit by the Chief of Staff of Tunisia armies, what is the significance of the military meeting?

-The meeting is very natural, and coordination between Tunisia and Algeria is ancient and not a new phenomenon. There is a large security coordination and harmony at the highest levels, and we will increase it in the areas of border guards and customs, in order to protect our borders, and make them immune and unused in serious issues such as terrorism, arms and drug trafficking, and smuggling which is harmful to both countries. So security coordination with Algeria is not strange at all, but it is more required.

* You said opposition is responsible for the events of Siliana, and you insisted on keeping the same governor despite escalation .. Why?

– I’m in Algeria, which is also my country, therefor I do not mind talking about internal affairs.First of all, I did not only accuse them, but I am sure they are responsible for the success of the experience, we have few and well known capabilities, the legacy and is heavy and demands are very large, it is important to note that the social and economic demands in Tunisia after the revolution are really big. There are priorities in the development, and if we focus all efforts on the development, we can not show the fruits of the efforts that are made by the authorities within a year or two, we have to be patient with the full belief that there are priorities and needs for our citizens. But, is violence the right solution? Sue…It isn’t, we seek to go to the elections, but if we work differently to reflect negatively on what we do, by stirring up trouble, and the disruption of the transition and the constitution, we are executing the transitional phase, especially if we adopt violence.There are priorities in development if we focus all efforts on the development, we can not see the fruits of th efforts of the authorities within a year or two, we have to be patient with the full belief that there priorities and needs of our citizens.

*How do you explain the use of spray weapons that are internationally banned to confront the protesters in the city?

-Does it make sense to attack a wilaya, and break and commit aggression under the pretext of improving the social status? Now, what do we say to investors? Who can come now to Siliana and to cities where problems and instability? Who would accept to come? Economists say that the capital is a coward, and this why it’s first catalyst is security and stability, we have lost a project worth 28 million dinars in Siliana because of these events, and the project could have employed hundreds.

*Are you justifying the Interior Ministry’s violent response?

-I do not justify the use of this, but we have to consider and understand how it started, we should look at some of the details, that are surrounding what happened over the past week, who is the attacker? who broke the city, threatened the governor and attacked the police? In such circumstances, police remain idle in front of these serious repercussions? Then we tell the police why did it remaine idle and did not do its duty to protect persons and properties, regardless of the use of spray weapon, we are investigating on the events.

*So are you denying information of using spray bombs against the protesters? Who will be included in the investigation on events?

-We do not investigate, but there is an independent commission that will investigate, but it will investigate in all events, how it started and where it will end, and who helped in fueling things? Investigations will reveal everything that happened in Siliana and the hidden aspects of the events will appear.

*Will you consider the cause of the Algerian community, which demand the recovery of properties that were nationalized by Ben Ali’s regime?

-We agreed with our brothers in Algeria and in mutual decisions to settle many issues such as property, employment and residence papers.It’s a shame to let a European settle and work, while our citizens remain ignored. We agreed with our Algerian brothers and with parallel steps to settle these issues before we talk about large Maghreb space, at least, the Tunisian and Algerian would be able to work wherever they want, they can own and possess, and each one could have a future. Those are the first steps of duty, not the nationalization of their properties, no matter how they are, their properties are sacred, we will treat our Algerian brothers, as we do with Tunisian citizens.

*What is the way to give a push to the Maghreb in light of the impasse, and sufficiency of its leaders with the diplomacy of messages only?
-Maghreb is living a rigid situation, and we have to adopt a clear solution that should and be pragmatic, this means that, if we did not get a hundred percent of the targets, we can achieve 10 to 20 percent, we should not go down the way to achieve one hundred percent of the targets, or achieve nothing. If there was a problem, we should leave it on the side, we should wait and be patient, and then turn to other files, and we should find the final settlement of the outstanding issues, and we will find ourselves then in a better time that would enable us to deal with the files, but to say that there is a problem and shut all, this is not reasonable, there are a lot of important common interests for both sides “roads, consultation, communication, cases against extremism and militancy.”
*In addition to what the Brotherhood are living in Tunisia, they are facing a similar situation in Egypt .. What is your comment on the last decisions of President Moursi?

-I do not want to interfere in the internal matters of countries, what I hope for Egypt is what I wish for Tunisia, we are in a transitional phase which needs solutions and not bombs.

*You said recently that non-partisan qualified people are welcome in government, and Sheikh Ghannouchi in turn welcomed in coordination with other trends, but felt that the hand of the Islamists will remain supreme. What is the importance of the coalition then?

-We welcome everyone who contributes to the solution of efficiency, and get us out of the transition to a larger stage. A stage of stability with constitution and elections, development and investment. This stage is dangerous and affects everything.
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