Interim FM receives Russian deputy FM

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, who is presently on working visit in Tunisia, was received, on Wednesday by interim Foreign Minister Mohamed Mouldi Kefi to whom he conveyed a message from his Russian counterpart Serguei Lavrov. In turn, Mr. Khemaies Jhinaoui, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs had with the Russian deputy FM a working session devoted to prospects of boosting the bilateral relations and the situation prevailing in the Maghreb and countries of the region. On this occasion, Mr. Bogdanov underscored the historical relations binding Tunisia and Russia, commending the level reached by bilateral relations in several fields. He praised the climate of serenity and confidence in which the October 23, 2011 National Constituent Assembly (NCA) election took place, paying tribute to the interim government for its efforts to guarantee the success of the democratic process in Tunisia. On this occasion, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister reasserted the support of Russia's Federation to Tunisia on the bilateral level, by further boosting the bilateral co-operation, notably in the investment, tourism, higher education, sports and culture fields, as well as in the follow-up of the G8 summit and the Deauville partnership. For his part, Mr. Khemaies Jhinaoui extended gratitude to Russia for its support to the democratic transition process in Tunisia, by sending a delegation of observers from the Council of Russia Federation during the elections and for the humanitarian assistance it had provided to the refugees on the Tunisian-Libyan borders.