| Tunisian President on First State Trip Abroad Visits Libya 03/01/2012 11:54:00 | ||
| Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki, (left, in white), is escorted by NTC chairman Mustafa Abdul-Jalil on his arrival at Tripoli International Airport.The chairman of Libya’s National Transitional Council, Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, Monday headed a welcoming party at the Tripoli International Airport Monday for Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki who is undertaking his first visit abroad since being sworn in as head of state in mid-December.The two leaders, have already had talks that centred on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest, and Marzouki, who won elections held in the wake of the toppling of his predecessor Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, told reporters at a joint news conference with Abdul-Jalil, that the purpose of his visit was to ensure that Tunisian-Libyan cooperation was on track.He said the two countries had agreed to respect agreements signed under the ousted regimes of Gaddafi and Ben Ali. “These agreements signed between the Gaddafi regime and Ben Ali were not executed,” he said, adding that healthy integration of the two nations was the long-term objective.Abdul-Jalil said there were 50 such agreements signed and “only some were executed.”Meanwhile, Abdul-Jalil apologised for skirmishes a few weks ago along the border with Tunisia, saying they were the result of actions by individuals.Asked about Libya’s former prime minister in the Gaddafi regime, 70-year-old Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi, currently held in a prison in Mornaguia, in Tunisia, and when Tunisia will hand him over to libya for trial, Marzouki demanded guarantees that he will get a fair trial and not be harmed physically as conditions for handing him over to Libya.He said: “We will demand all guarantees for a fair trial and that there will be no physical harm” to Mahmoudi. He added: “We have our values that we stand for. So we ask for your patience,” he added.Al-Mahmoudi was arrested on September 21 on Tunisia’s southwestern border with Algeria and jailed for entering the country illegally.Amnesty International has urged Tunisia not to extradite al-Mahmoudi, saying he risks being subjected to “serious human rights violations.”His defence team says that he fears for his life if he is returned to Libya as he is the sole holder of Libyan state secrets since Gaddafi was killed on October 20.Tunisian courts have twice approved the Libyan request to extradite Mahmoudi, who has been battling against it on the grounds that he has formally applied for refugee status in Tunisia. But his extradition can only takes place if Marzouki approves it.Moncef told a meeting of civil society groups in Tripoli that Libya had the right to judge the former premier. “As is our right to demand the extradition of (ousted Tunisian president Zine El Abidine) Ben Ali to try him for crimes he committed, you also have the right to ask for the extradition of Mahmoudi,” he said.Moncef was also scheduled to have talks with Libya’s interim prime minister Abdurrahim el-Keeb, and other senior officials currently forming Libya’s interim government.Ben Ali was toppled last January in a popular uprising triggered by the self-immolation of a Tunisian vegetable vendor. His ouster triggered the Arab Spring movement that has also seen the fall of Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi, and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. |
Tunisian President on First State Trip Abroad Visits Libya
**Amin Ahmed** is a Libyan journalist and contributor at TripoliPost, reporting on current affairs, business, and regional developments. With a keen eye for detail and a dedication to fair, balanced journalism, he delivers stories that keep readers informed about Libya and the world beyond its borders. He can be reached at amin.ahmed@tripolipost.com
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