Tunisia's caretaker president of the republic visits Tataouine

Interim President of the Republic Mohamed Moncef Marzouki visited, Sunday, the Governorate of Tataouine. A meeting was held with the executives of the region and representatives of the civil society focusing on social, security and development issues. In an address on this occasion, the President of the Republic highlighted Tunisia's enhanced image abroad in this democratic transition contrary to the information of certain media in Tunisia and abroad. After the completion of drafting the constitution and the organisation of the next elections, Marzouki called for dividing the country into development regions to which some of the local riches should be allocated. He pointed out that the present laws and the administrative formalities do not help to guarantee celerity in the implementation of projects which explains the use by the government of only 60% of the budget for 2012. Besides, Mr. Marzouki called to exert efforts to overcome the issue of unemployment which touches more than 700,000 youths. Answering the questions of the participants on the imprisonment of youths who had blocked the road in the region to claim employment, the President of the Republic excluded any possibility of tolerance towards those who block the road, set fire in police stations and prevent anyone to go to work. The participants in the meeting underlined the need to grant to the governorate and to the citizens of Tataouine the importance they deserve and strive for the promotion of regional development in accordance with the expectations of youths of the Revolution concerning notably employment and dignity. Earlier, The President of the Republic had received, in the governorate's premises, the family of Corporal Khalifa Ben Aïssa, who died in a road accident involving smugglers on March 11, on the Tunisian-Libyan border. Besides, President Marzouki enquired about the furtherance of the construction works of the new industrial zone "El-Khabta", whose cost is estimated at two million dinars, and which cover an area of 10 hectares. He also enquired about the components of the projects of metallic construction and making of photovoltaic panels for the new industrial zone. President Marzouki also visited the youth centre of Ghomrassen, renamed after Zouhayr Yahyaoui, cyber-activist who died on March 13, 2005.