Written question asked by Marquess of Lothian (Conservative) on Wednesday, 30 October 2019, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 13 November 2019. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Tuesday, 5 November 2019 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Tunisia: Foreign Relations

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to strengthen bilateral relations with Tunisia and to support that country's ongoing political and economic changes; and what meetings ministers have held with President Kais Saied.

Answer: The British Government congratulates President Kais Saied on his inauguration on 24 October. We remain in close touch with the Tunisian authorities and look forward to working with the new Government when it is formed. While British Ministers have not yet met President Saied, UK officials attended his inauguration. The Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Dr Murrison, held comprehensive talks with the then Tunisian Secretary of State to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sabri Bachtobji, at the UK-Tunisia Bilateral Forum in London on 12 September. Mr Bachtobji was appointed Acting Foreign Minister on 29 October. The signing of the UK-Tunisia Association Agreement on 4 October, and the UK-Tunisia Investment Forum on 22 October are other recent highlights of our growing bilateral co-operation and, along with UK programming worth over £12 million in 2019-2020, testament to our continuing support for Tunisia’s political and economic development.

Secondary information