US, Tunisia sign cooperation agreement

A joint declaration on political and economic co-operation and partnership has been signed in New York between Tunisia and the United States, asides from the 66th session of the UN General Assembly; Tunisian news agency reported. The declaration was signed by Foreign Minister Mohamed Mouldi Kefi and US secretary of state Hillary Clinton. According to the spokeswoman for the US state department Ana Escrogima, the aim of this document is to promote relations of cooperation between the United States and Tunisia in several fields . The point is, she informed that to provide all the necessary assistance to the democratic process in Tunisia, support civil society, promote transparency mechanisms and back all the initiatives aimed to secure equal chances and favour the participation of citizens to political life. Mrs.: Escrogima also told that this declaration provided for the development of bilateral co-operation in the fields of defence and security and in matters of education and culture. It provides as well as boosting economic co-operation through inciting businessmen to visit Tunisia, increasing US investment in Tunisia, boosting initiative and increasing opportunities for jobs and technical cooperation. The talks between US Secretary Hillary Clinton and Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Mouldi Kefi had been held in a "positive atmosphere", stressing that this meeting had provided the occasion for both sides to outpoint the importance of this new framework for partnership that represents an excellent opportunity to extend the field of bilateral co-operation.