Erdogan starts official visit to Tunisia

TUNIS:Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday began a two-day official visit to Tunisia at the invitation of his Tunisian counterpart Beji Caid Essebsi.

"This visit goes hand in hand with the common will of the two countries to strengthen and diversify bilateral relations as well as anchoring a political consultation approach around issues of common interest," said Beji.

The Turkish president will hold talks with senior Tunisian leaders including President Beji Caid Essebsi, Prime Minister Youssef Chahed and Speaker of the Assembly of People's Representatives Mohamed Ennaceur.

In addition, a large delegation of Turkish businessmen will take part in the Tunisian-Turkish Economic Forum co-organized by the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts and its Turkish counterpart.

The Tunisian politician Abdelwaheb Hani believed that the visit of the Turkish president is a timely opportunity to put the light on several major issues that directly involve Tunisian diplomacy.

"First of all," he said on the eve of Erdogan's visit, "we must insist on the Tunisian position with regard to the Palestinian cause and the consolidation of the recent UN vote against Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel."

Tunisia will also highlight its "positive and constructive neutrality" facing various conflicts in the region especially since the country should have, periodically, details on the process of settlement of the Syrian conflict as part of the tripartite initiative of Turkey, Russia and Iran," Hani said.

According to Hani, Tunisia and Turkey will strengthen cooperation in security area including fight against terrorism.