Tunisia shares viewpoints with Egypt, Algeria concerning Libya

Tunisian Foreign Minister Al Tayeb Al Bakoush said terrorism has become a transborder phenomenon and the situation in Tunisia is directly influenced by that in Libya and indirectly by the unrest in Syria.

Interviewed by "Al Ghad Al Arabi" Satellite TV late Monday, Bakoush said as many as 4,000 to 5,000 Tunisians from the jobless or the poor categories have been recruited by the armed groups to join the conflict in Libya or to travel via Turkey to Syria.

The Tunisian top diplomat asserted that Tunis shared viewpoints with Egypt and Algeria regarding the latest developments in Algeria, voicing a deep resolve to enhance dialogue among the three countries to render successful the efforts of the UN to work out a peaceful political solution for the Libyan conflict.

There is a great cooperation between Tunisia and Algeria regarding the security of the borders, said the diplomat, adding that Tunisia has managed to foil several terrorist operations and smuggling attempts over the past period.

As regards the situation in Libya, Bakoush said Tunisia is neutrally dealing with the two governments in Libya to maintain the common interests of the two peoples, noting that Tunisia asked to name a consul in Tobroq and another in Tripoli but on the condition of providing them with security.

He went on to say that Tunisia worked on outlining a strategy for combating terrorism and could not finally closed the borders with Libya to protect the peoples of the two countries.

Bakouk also ruled out any American presence on the Tunisian borders.

Sources: MENA