Caretaker PM meets with UGTT, LTDH and the Bar Chiefs

The political and social situation in the country was the focal point of the meeting held on Tuesday, between Caretaker Prime Minister Béji Caid Essebsi and Chairman of the Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH) Mokhtar Trifi, President of the Bar Abderrazak Kilani and Secretary-General of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) Abdessalem Jerad. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss "the need for different stakeholders among organisations and structures to ensure the success of the transitional stage," a statement from the Prime Ministry said. It was also an opportunity for the heads of these organisations to "reassert their commitment as active players to spread peace and social security for the organisation of free and transparent elections on time," adds the same statement, indicating that emphasis was placed on "the importance of restoring confidence between the Interim Government and the people." Reached by telephone, LTDH told TAP news agency that the meeting, which he described as "frank," came after the joint statement released Saturday by the three organisations about the general situation in the country and "obstacles impeding the democratic process." "As heads of these organisations, we conveyed to the prime minister our concerns about the current situation and reasserted our support for the choice of consensus to continue the process, reach the date of October 23 under best conditions and work to win confidence of the citizens," said Mr. Trifi. The Chairman of the LTDH also pointed out that the reform of the judiciary was also the focus of the meeting. Stress was also put on the need to "hold accountable symbols of corruption in the former regime and clean the judiciary," and minimize the risk of security drifts, he said, adding that emphasis was also placed on the need for the police to fulfil their mission and intervene effectively to avoid clashes and face up to violence. Other issues regarding the situation of the press, regional development and employment were also on the agenda of the meeting, reported Mr. Trifi. "The meeting was positive and we expect that the Prime Minister announces in his Thursday's speech concrete measures related to the issues discussed," concluded the chairman of LTDH.