Portuguese FM: "We support democratic process in Tunisia"

Portugal's Foreign Affairs Minister Paulo Portas emphasised, on Monday in Tunis, his country's support for the democratic process in Tunisia. His visit to Tunisia, he said, takes place a week before the National Constituent Assembly elections and provides the opportunity to reassert support for the electoral process and respect for the choice of Tunisians in these elections. At the end of the talk he had, on Monday in Tunis, with Interim Prime Minister Béji Caid Essebsi, the Portuguese Foreign Minister praised Tunisia's Revolution and the courage of the Tunisian people who "introduced a decisive change in the political system." "With the fall of an autocratic regime and the demand for respect of others' opinions and freedom of thought, the Revolution has opened the door to hope and freedom towards democracy," he said. The Portuguese FM also underlined that Tunisia was the first country where a revolution had started last December, followed by the January 2011 events to spread later in  different countries of the region. Tunisia is also the first country to give voters the opportunity to define their future by holding transparent, democratic and free elections after years of autocracy", he added. He described his meeting with the PM as "fruitful", adding that it had focused on several international issues of mutual interest. Mr. Portas asserted his country's will to further strengthen the Tunisian-Portuguese co-operation in the various political, economic, cultural and social areas.