Hollande seeks to bolster transition in Tunisia

French President Francois Hollande will lead a large delegation to Tunisia for a two-day visit beginning Thursday and he will seek to bolster the democratic change process in the North African country and also boost bilateral relations and France's standing with Tunis. Tunisia was the first so-called "Arab Spring" country to embrace revolution in late 2011 to oust its strongman ruler, namely Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, a move that had a ripple effect in countries like Libya and Egypt, which followed suit several months after. But the Tunisian transition has run into domestic trouble as different factions - conservative and liberals - face off over the constitutional and political make-up of the "new" Tunisia. France, which hesitated for several long months before abandoning Ben Ali, is now fully behind the new authorities and the efforts to put an end to civil strife and get the economy back up and running - particularly the lucrative and formerly-vibrant tourism sector. In comments ahead of the trip, which will include 10 French ministers and at least as many business leaders, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on French television that Tunisia had a very good chance of succeeding in its transition process by comparison with other countries where conditions are different and difficulties greater. "Tunisia is a few million people with a high level of education and a high level of development," Fabius said on "I-Tele" news channels. He said that France could give advice on the situation in Tunisia but could not dictate policies. "It is not up to France to tell Tunisians what they can do and what they cannot do," Fabius warned. "We must help with the success of the process - economically and democratically - and set out 'Red Lines' concerning respect for women's rights and (certain voting) procedures," he added. Fabius, who will accompany Hollande on Thursday and Friday in Tunisia, said that during an earlier visit a month ago he had registered "certain positive evolutions," for example, a realisation by the ruling Ennahda party that there was a terrorist risk, which it had denied existed beforehand. But the Foreign Minister also vowed to criticise anti-democratic developments in Tunisia when these take place, but overall he appeared somewhat encouraged by the path taken in most areas in Tunisia. "If there is an "Arab Spring" country where there is likely to be success, it is probably Tunisia because it is not too big, it has an important level of development, there is a tradition of respect for women which is important, it is a country where there are economic resources," Fabius affirmed. But he said France and others must help Tunisia but must also react to "excesses" in that country, without interfering in its internal affairs.