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Estonia and Tunisia signed a Co-operation Agreement in the Field of Culture, Education, Research and Sports
27.01.2005
On Thursday, 27 January Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry Priit Kolbre met with Tunisian Foreign Ministry State Secretary in charge of European Affairs Mohamed Hatem Ben Salem. At the end of the meeting, the parties signed a Co-operation Agreement in the Field of Culture, Education, Research and Sports between the Governments of Estonia and Tunisia.
At the beginning of the meeting Secretary General Kolbre recognised that ensuing from the accession to the European Union new multilateral co-operation possibilities have opened up for Estonia, including the development of relations with Tunisia. "It has for a long time seemed to Estonia that the states of North Africa are somewhere very far away from us, but it is not so any more," the Secretary General said, adding that the recent disaster in Southeast and South Asia also proved how small and how interconnected the world really is.
The State Secretary agreed, adding that in such circumstances the strategic partnership and fruitful co-operation at all levels between the Mediterranean countries and the European Union is of utmost importance. "We have common threats and for that reason we should have common positions as well for the fight against them," he said, concerned about the proliferation of terrorism and extremism, as well as poverty reigning in a many regions.
The parties discussed in detail the strategic partnership of the European Union with the countries of the Mediterranean and Middle East region. They went on to discuss the Barcelona process and the role of the European Union Neighbourhood Policy in the creation of a common zone of peace and prosperity, and in ensuring stability in that region. "Although situated in the northern part of the EU, we consider the Barcelona process important and hope that the European Neighbourhood Policy will give a new impetus to co-operation between the EU and the Mediterranean," Secretary General Kolbre noted. "It is very important to develop a constructive dialogue, which will contribute to the establishment of the common interests and goals of the both parties," he added.
The Tunisian State Secretary spoke of the Action Plan drafted for Tunisia in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy in the autumn last year. He affirmed that Tunisia hopes to be the first among the Mediterranean countries to implement the plan nationally. It is expected that the Tunisian Action Plan will be approved by the European Union-Tunisia Association Council taking place on 31 January.
The Tunisian State Secretary confirmed that preparations for the UN Summit on the Information Society to take place in November in Tunis have begun. The State Secretary also called on Estonian businessmen to participate in the Summit. "I would like to encourage Estonian entrepreneurs to take part in the international forum, because it would help the businessmen here to find and develop new international contacts," he said.
The meeting ended with the signing of the Co-operation Agreement in the Field of Culture, Education, Research and Sports by the Secretary General and the State Secretary. The purpose of the Agreement is to strengthen friendly relations between Estonia and Tunisia, and to develop relations in the fields of culture, education, research and sports.
The Tunisian State Secretary also met with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary European Union Affairs Riina Ruth Kionka with whom in addition to the aforementioned topics, problems connected with the Middle East Peace Process and Iraq were discussed.
Tunisia was the first Mediterranean country to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union in 1995. The agreement entered into force on 1 March 1998. Tunisia has participated in the Barcelona process since its establishment in 1995.The Association Agreement was extended to Estonia as of 1 May 2004.
In June last year, the European Council approved the Strategic Partnership of the European Union with the Mediterranean and the Middle East Countries, which formed a common basis for EU policy. The purpose of the partnership is to foster the development of the Mediterranean and Middle East regions by promoting peace and prosperity.
The Barcelona process is an initiative dating to 1995 with the goal to further tighten political, economic as well as cultural contacts between the European Union and the Mediterranean countries.
35 countries participate in the Barcelona process: 25 Member States of the European Union, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Palestinian National Authority, Lebanon and Syria. Libya has currently been given observer status.
Tunisian Foreign Ministry State Secretary in charge of European Affairs
Mohamed Hatem Ben Salem
Tunisian Foreign Ministry State Secretary Mohamed Hatem Ben Salem and the Secretary General of the Estonian Foreign Ministry Priit Kolbre signing the agreement
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