25/10/2007 Political Affairs and Democracy
Josette Durrieu (France, SOC), Rapporteur for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on strengthening co-operation with the Maghreb countries, made an official visit to Algeria (19-22 October) and Tunisia (22-24 October) to explore the possibilities of political, judicial, administrative and cultural co-operation with the countries of the region.
In Algeria, Ms Durrieu met the Speaker of the National People’s Assembly, Abdelaziz Ziari, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mourad Medelci, senior members of the Council of the Nation, and the President of the High Islamic Council on the subject of inter-faith dialogue. Farouk Ksentini, President of the National Consultative Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, discussed the human rights situation in the country with Ms Durrieu, while the directors of Algerian television and radio joined with her in analysing practical possibilities for co-operation in the broadcasting field.
In Tunisia, after her meeting with the Secretary of State for European Affairs, Hatem Ben Salem, Ms Durrieu underlined this country’s willingness to co-operate with the Council of Europe. This was followed by meetings with representatives of political parties, including the Secretary General of the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), Maya Jribi, who recently ended a hunger strike after the PDP had returned to its premises in Tunis. Ms Durrieu said that she had been able to measure the state of political freedom and freedom of expression in the country. Her visit ended after talks with the Grand Mufti of Tunisia and the leader of the country’s Jewish community, who conveyed to her the country’s desire to play a major role in inter-faith dialogue.
Ms Durrieu will resume her consultations in Morocco and at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo at the end of November in order to complete her report.