By Houda Mzioudet.
Tripoli, 25 March 2014:
In a bid to diffuse the current crisis at the Ras Jedir border crossing, which has . . .[restrict]been closed for over a fortnight, a meeting was held yesterday between Tunisian and Libyan civil society representatives.
The meeting was held in the presence of the governor of the southern Tunisian Governorate of Medenine, Habib Chouat, Tunisian radio station Tataouine reported. The Libyan side was represented by the Coordinating Group of Civil Society Organisations of Zuara.
One of its members, Hafedh Ftiess, told the Libya Herald that the Tunisian and Libyan sides agreed on the necessity of protecting the dignity of Tunisian and Libyan travellers. To this end, he said, a common security committee would be set up.
“In fact, they just needed to activate an old agreement regarding this committee,” Ftiess said.
This committee will oversee the general situation in the border region between Tunisia and Libya and try to ensure free movement of citizens from both countries.
At the end of the meeting, both the Tunisian and Libyan sides said they hoped that the Ras Jedir border crossing would be reopened in a matter of days.
A knock-on effect of the closure has been congestion at the Dhehiba-Wazen border crossing to the west of Ras Jedir.
Further meetings are planned. [/restrict]
