Turkish officials arrive in Tunis for investment forum

By Mahmut Geldi

TUNIS

The leader of Tunisia’s Ennahda movement, Rached Ghannouchi, met late Monday with a high-level Turkish delegation led by Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli.

The delegation -- which also included Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu -- is visiting Tunis to participate in an international conference that opened on Tuesday with a view to luring foreign investment to shore up the country’s struggling economy.

"It’s an honor to receive you," Ghannouchi told delegation members. "This high-level visit shows that Turkey stands alongside Tunisia."

Canikli, for his part, conveyed greetings from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim to Ghannouchi and the Tunisian people.

"We’re following developments, changes and transformation [in Tunisia] closely," Canikli said, adding that Tunisia had achieved what many Arab countries had failed to do in the aftermath of the 2011 "Arab Spring" uprisings.

The deputy premier also stressed Turkey’s warm relations with the Tunisian people and Tunisia’s Ennahda movement.

Monday’s meeting was also attended by Turkish Deputy Economy Minister Fatih Metin and Turkish Ambassador to Tunisia Omer Faruk Dogan.

With a view to promoting its economy, Tunisia plans to presents a 2016-2020 "national strategy" at the two-day conference.