Tunisia: Haniyeh Speaks to the Constituent Assembly

Ismail Haniyeh, the deposed Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, the deposed Palestinian Prime Minister, is to visit Tunisia on January 5 and 6 in response to the invitation of Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali. Jebali will be welcoming Haniyeh before meeting with President, Moncef Marzouki, and the President of the National Constituent Assembly, Mustafa Ben Jaafar.
The Information Office of the The Ennahda Movement Party, has declared that Haniyeh is to also meet with the historical leader, Sheikh Rashid Ghannouchi, and members of the National Constituent Assembly.
Haniyeh's visit to Tunisia coincides with the visit paid by French Foreign Minister, Alain Juppe, who comes to "strengthen relations between Tunisia and France and cooperation between the two countries in various fields."
During his second visit to Tunisia since the fall of former Tunisian President Ben Ali, on January 14 last year, Juppe will meet Moncef Marzouki, Tunisian interim President, Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali, the President of the National Constituent Assembly, Mustafa Ben Jaafar, Tunisian Prime Minister  Rafik bin Abdel-Salam, and a number of officials and businessmen, as well as representatives of civil society and the French community in Tunisia.
Talks are expected to be focused on regional and international issues of common concern, especially Tunisian-European cooperation, and coordination between the two countries on the Euro-Mediterranean level ".
The Juppe has stressed the need for the new authorities, which took power in North Africa after revolutions of the Arab spring, to respect the rule of law, and minorities’ and women's status.
Italian Foreign Minister Giuliano Terzi Is expected to arrive Friday, in a one-day visit to Tunisia and meet with Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rafiq Abdel-Salam.
The Italian minister has declared, long ago, how he welcomes the "democratic route chosen by Tunisia, which contributes to strengthening our relations." During a phone call with Abdul Salam, he said, "We look to Tunisia as a key partner for us in the framework of our Mediterranean policy."
 Observers say that the momentum of visits performed by the European officials come as a reassurance to the European Right about the fears regarding the Islamists rising to power in the spring of the Arab countries, that started with Tunisia.