Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna spoke yesterday with her Tunisian counterpart, Othman Jerandi.
She reiterated France's support for Tunisia and the Tunisian people amid the economic and social challenges the country is facing. She hailed the constructive dialogue between Tunisian authorities and teams from the International Monetary Fund in Tunisia over the past few days. She called on the Tunisian government to continue its efforts to reach an agreement with the IMF as quickly as possible and to work with all political and economic stakeholders to implement the economic reforms that are vital to the country's prosperity.
During their conversation, the ministers discussed food security in the region, which has been seriously undermined by the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Ms. Colonna noted that France and its European partners are working hard to ensure that Tunisia can meet its most urgent needs, especially for soft wheat.
A few days prior to the constitutional referendum on July 25, the minister expressed the hope that the political and institutional transition would take place in the best possible conditions and would be characterized by dialogue and respect for the rule of law. She reaffirmed the importance France attributes to the preservation of the democratic gains of the 2011 revolution and the guarantee of fundamental rights and individual liberties.
Lastly, the ministers discussed regional issues, particularly the situation in Libya.