France affirms support to Tunisia's transition

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius affirmed Tuesday his country's support to Tunisia to ensure successful transition based on democratic principles. Fabius made his remarks to the press after his talks with Tunisian Prime Minister Ali Larayedh, adding that he conveyed greetings of his President Francois Hollande to the Tunisian premier, and congratulated Tunisia for the freedom revolution. "I am in Tunisia to extend a message of friendship, support and admiration of France for what the Tunisian people and their country, cradle of the Arab Spring, have done," Fabius said. The French Foreign Minister added that he came bearing a message of friendship from President Hollande to Tunisia and strengthen the pledge of France to continue accompany Tunisia on the path of development and democracy. "We are the first partner of Tunisia with which we are extremely close on various fields, notably, educational, economic and social," Fabius added. The French minister arrived in Tunis earlier today and met with his counterpart Othman Al-Jarandi, and President Moncef Marzouki.