Tunisian President discusses Mali crisis with African leaders

Tunisian President Mohamed Moncef Marzouki (R) signs African Charter On Democracy Tunisian President, Dr Mohamed Moncef Marzouki has called for a "genuine political settlement" in Mali to save the Sahel and Sahara region from long-term repercussions of the crisis .
Marzouki was speaking after a meeting with several African leaders to discuss the potential implications of the war on neighbouring countries.
On the sidelines of the 20th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, the Tunisian President also held talks with Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan about the security of their mutual borders, as well as ways to address the financial crisis and its repercussions on the countries of the Maghreb.
 The duo also discussed a potential increase in bilateral cooperation between the two countries and development of joint mechanisms to overcome border problems, especially regarding the issue of Ras Ajdir crossing border which has been closed several times because of social protests, and repeated armed attacks on Tunisians citizens and security officers by Libyan armed groups.
 Both Marzouki and Zeidan agreed on the need to develop an emergency plan between the Maghreb countries to address serious security challenges that threaten regional peace and stability.
The issue of military intervention in Mali and its repercussions on the countries of the Sahel and Sahara dominated the talks between President Marzouki and a number of African leaders. The Tunisian President met his Malian counterpart Dioncounda Traore, the Ivory Coast President, Alassane Ouattara, Senegalese President, Macky Sall and the President of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaore.
 Later on Sunday, Marzouki discussed economic and technical cooperation with President of Chad, Idris Deby. The Chadian President gave the Tunisian President an official invitation to participate in the summit of the Sahel and Sahara, to be held next month in the Chadian capital, N'Djamena.
 Moreover, the Tunisian President signed a number of agreements to join the African Charter On Democracy, Elections And Governance and Africa's Anti-Corruption Convention, saying that Tunis' signature on these agreements confirms its integration into the system of the African action after it was absent for decades.