Discontent and Attitude: Kais Saied explains to Washington ‘the path of Tunisia’
Tunisian President Kais Saied clarifies Tunisia’s reform path for a U.S. official as part of a stance that renews ties and refutes false claims.
In a meeting on Tuesday with the help of the US Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Barbara A. Leaf, Said refuted allegations promoted by certain parties and asked the US authorities to listen to their Tunisian counterparts to find out the truth about the situation.
According to a statement issued by the Tunisian presidency, the meeting between the two sides dealt with the development of bilateral relations between Tunisia and the United States of America.
Saied clarified many issues related to the course Tunisia is going through, reiterating his country’s adherence to its sovereignty and refusal to interfere in its internal affairs.
The Tunisian president expressed his displeasure with the recent statements made by a number of U.S. officials.
According to the statement, the meeting was also an opportunity to discuss the economic and social conditions in Tunisia and the role that the international community can play to help overcome the difficulties.
Barbara A. Leaf is in Tunis for a visit that will last until Wednesday.
Last week, a delegation from the US Congress visited Tunisia and met with Saied, who spoke about recent US statements.
“The statements made by a number of [US] officials in the recent period are unacceptable by any measure,” Saied said, addressing the delegation.
He stressed that “Tunisia is a free, independent and sovereign state, in addition to sovereignty for the people who expressed their will in the last referendum (on the constitution) and will express it in the next elections scheduled for next October.”
Following the vote in Tunisia to adopt the new constitution, several international positions emerged from the July 25 referendum calling for support for democracy in Tunisia.
On July 29, the Tunisian Foreign Ministry announced in a statement that it summoned the charge d’affaires of the US embassy to denounce “interference” and “unacceptable” statements by US officials who criticized the referendum on the constitution.
A day earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement, declaring that “the new constitution undermines democracy in Tunisia.”
