Alfred Sant – ‘Europe must counter the threat to democracy in Tunisia’

Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant told the European Parliament in Strasbourg that there is a moral obligation and just as importantly a geostrategic urgency for Europe to counter the threat to democracy in Tunisia. Dr Sant, addressing the debate ‘EU Support to Tunisia’, said this can only be done by a special programme, that is suitably funded by the European Union, meant to help Tunisia counter the economic consequences of the terrorist threat it is facing and be in an effective position to sustain jobs, investment and growth. Dr. Sant emphasised that the destabilisation of Tunisian democracy is against Europe’s vital interests.

Dr Sant said that instability in North Africa was boosted by the efforts of European powers to achieve regime change there. They did this without having a road map for the future. The resulting confusion has fuelled radical extremism, multiplying the security threat both inside and outside North Africa. Still, Tunisia managed to achieve a fragile democratic balance that has become almost unique as a model for the area. This has made the country a priority target for terrorism, as witnessed by the recent act of atrocious violence on the beaches of Tunisia. Its fragility is caused by insufficient jobs, investment and economic growth. Precisely, terrorists aim to destabilise Tunisia by hitting at this fragility to create more unemployment, frighten investment off and undermine the economy.

 

Maltese Version – ‘L-EWROPA GĦANDHA TIINDIRIZZA T-THEDDIDA GĦAD-DEMOKRAZIJA FIT-TUNEŻIJA’

L-ewroparlamentari Malti Alfred Sant qal lill-Parlament Ewropew fi Strasburgu li l-Ewropa għandha obbligazzjoni morali li b’mod urġenti tindirizza it-theddida għad-demokrazija fit-Tuneżija. Dr. Sant li kien qed jindirizza d-dibattitu ‘Appoġġ tal-UE Għat-Tuneżija’ qal li dan jista’ jsir bi programm speċjali, finanzjat mill-Unjoni Ewropea biex jgħin lit-Tuneżija tagħmel tajjeb għall-konsegwenzi ekonomiċi negattivi li qed toħloqilha it-theddida terroristika u b’hekk tkun tista’ ssostni l-impjiegi, l-investiment u t-tkabbir ekonomiku. Dr. Sant enfasizza li d-destabilizzar tad-demokrazija fit-Tuneżija huwa kontra l-interessi vitali tal-Ewropa.

Dr. Sant qal li l-instabbilita’ fl-Afrika ta’ Fuq żdiedet bl-isforzi tal-pajjiżi Ewropej li jibdlu t-tmexxija tal-pajjiżi t’hemmhekk mingħajr ma kien hemm ‘road map’ għall-futur. Il-konfużjoni li kien hemm wara l-bidliet fit-tmexxija fl-Afrika ta’ Fuq żiedet l-estremiżmu radikali u żiedet ukoll it-theddida għas-sigurta’ kemm ġewwa u kemm barra l-Afrika ta’ Fuq. Minkejja dan, qal Dr. Sant, it-Tuneżija żammet il-bilanċ demokratiku tagħha li għamilha mudell uniku f’din iż-żona tal-Mediterran. Din is-sitwazzjoni għamlet lit-Tuneżija mira ewlenija għat-terroristi, kif rajna riċentement fil-vjolenza atroċi fuq il-bajjiet tat-Tuneżija. Il-fraġilita’ fit-Tuneżija hija kkawżata minn nuqqas ta’ impjiegi, investiment u tkabbir ekonomiku. Preċiżament huwa għalhekk li t-terroristi qed jippruvaw jidistabilizzaw it-Tuneżija biex jattakkaw din il-fraġilita’ u joħolqu aktar qgħad, ibegħdu l-investiment u jimminaw l-ekonomija Tuneżina.