REUTERS: PARIS: Tunisia said Wednesday that it needed more help from its European partners in its transition to democracy because if it failed no other country in the Arab region would succeed.

 

During a visit to Paris to boost economic ties and seek help to bolster security to fight Islamist militants, Foreign Minister Mongi Hamdi said his country had done “exemplary” work to move toward elections by the end of the year, but more support was needed. 

“We, Tunisians, have done our job, exemplary work,” Hamdi said at a news conference with his French counterpart, Laurent Fabius. “Now we’re waiting for our partners to come and help us accomplish our mission for a democratic transition.” 

After a crisis last year brought on by the killing of two opposition leaders, Tunisian factions finally adopted a new constitution in January and the ruling Islamists stepped aside for a caretaker administration to govern until elections.

 

While the North African country has advanced toward democracy since the 2011 revolution that toppled President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, other countries such as Libya and Egypt have seen unrest since overthrowing their long-ruling autocratic rulers.

 

“ Tunisia is not less important than other countries in Europe such as Greece or Ukraine, so it’s in the interests of everybody that Tunisia succeeds in this transition,” Hamdi said. “We must ensure that Tunisia is a success story because if it isn’t then no other Arab country will succeed.”

 

France, the former colonial power and one of the country’s main economic partners, has come under fire since 2011 from Tunisians for appearing indifferent throughout the transition process. But French officials say Paris has remained low key to avoid accusations of interfering in Tunis’ internal affairs.

 

French President Francois Hollande traveled to Tunisia in January for the constitutional ceremony, a move diplomats said amounted to a show of confidence from Paris.

 

“If there is one country that can get out of the crisis it’s Tunisia, so we are supporting not only with our hearts, but our minds,” Fabius said.

 

He said he would spend his summer holidays in Tunisia to set an example for French tourists who have shied away from the North African country since the 2011 revolution. 

Tourism accounts for 8 percent of Tunisia’s gross domestic product, and its tourism minister said Wednesday that renewed political stability would enable record tourism this year. 

“It’s in our interest that we manage to have transitions in the Arab world that succeed,” Fabius said.

 

French diplomats said Paris would press ahead with pledges to provide 500 million euros ($645 million) in loans and grants to support Tunisia and write off 60 million euros of Tunisian debt to be converted into investment projects.

 

The two sides also agreed to speed up the release of millions of dollars worth of assets frozen in France since Ben Ali departed, something that has repeatedly been held up. 

However, Mongi and Fabius both acknowledged serious challenges threatening the transition, notably that of Islamist militancy and rising insecurity in neighbouring Libya.

 

“ Tunisia is extremely worried by what’s going on in Libya,” a French diplomatic source said. 

“ Libya has goodwill, but brigades, not the government, are controlling the border.”