By Michel Cousins,
Tripoli, 9 October, 2013:
Security issues dominated talks between Ali Zeidan and his Tunisian counterpart Ali Larayedh when he made . . .[restrict]a stopover at Tunis on his way back to Tripoli after his three-day visit to Morocco.
Speaking to the media after their airport talks, both prime ministers said that there would be increased collaboration on security, notably the fight against terrorism and border protection. “The two sides are called to protect each other’s revolution,” Larayedh said.
Security was again the main subject but on a wider field when Zeidan then met with Tunisian President Mohamed Marouki at the presidential palace in Carthage.
They looked at the regional security challenges and the need to strengthen cooperation between North Africa and the Sahel states (Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad and Sudan) so as to ensure stability. A more active and enhanced role for the Arab Maghreb Union was also agreed – a development earlier approved by Morocco during Zeidan’s talks in Rabat.
The Prime Minister, who was accompanied by the Ministers of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Economy and Islamic Affairs, arrived back in Tripoli last night.
Other ministers were briefed on the visit in a cabinet meeting today. [/restrict]