OSCE Chairperson meets Tunisian authorities, discusses priority needs for OSCE assistance

TUNIS, 16 April 2010 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, in meetings today with the country’s leadership said that the OSCE stood ready to assist Tunisia during the transition period to build and consolidate democracy.

“The Tunisian people are embarking on a historic mission to create a more free and prosperous society. This mission has to succeed as an example of a transformation of society,” Ažubalis said during a meeting with Mouldi Kefi, Foreign Minister of Tunisia. Ažubalis stressed that assistance from the international community is instrumental in the process of democratic transition and emphasized that “the OSCE has considerable experience and expertise in helping countries in transition, to create democratic institutions and civil society”.

At a meeting with representatives of United Nations bodies in Tunis, the Chairperson-in-Office recalled his speech at the UN Security Council in February, as well as his series of talks with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the need to closely co-ordinate international support to the country with the UN and other international partners.  Ažubalis reconfirmed the readiness of the OSCE and its institutions, in particular the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), to assist Tunisia during its transition.

“We need to discuss how we can best help the Tunisian government, and what their priority needs are,” Ažubalis said. Among possible areas where the OSCE could help Tunisia, he mentioned electoral support, development of the independent media, drafting legislation, police reform, border management, travel document security and migration management.

“The OSCE is ready to co-operate immediately with Tunisia on urgent needs, such as the organization of free and fair elections, and also to offer its expertise in the medium and long term in building and consolidating democracy,” Ažubalis said.

Constituent assembly elections in the country are scheduled for 24 July.

Ažubalis also met Latifa Lakdhar, Vice President of the High Commission for the Achievement of the Revolution’s Goals, Political Reform and Democratic Transition, to discuss OSCE/ODIHR’s possible role in reviewing draft legislation and proposing concrete recommendations that would help ensure compliance with international norms and obligations. Ažubalis stressed that “it is important to wait, coherently work and nurture the development of democracy”.

“The experience of the OSCE and the international community as a whole shows that under different circumstances, building democracy requires different periods of time. Patience and hard, sustainable work are the basis for positive changes,” he said.

Tunisia is one of the OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation. OSCE can provide assistance to its Partners upon their request and following a consensus decision of all 56 participating States of the Organization.