Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis received her Tunisian counterpart Abdelwaheb Abdallah in Athens on Wednesday, with both sides citing volition to boost relations at both the bilateral level and within the framework of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation.

During a reception that followed the meeting, the two foreign ministers exchanged views on developments in the Middle East and the Mediterranean region, while they agreed on the exchange of further high-level visits within the framework of efforts aimed at forging closer bilateral ties.

Bakoyannis accepted an invitation to visit Tunisia, while Deputy Finance Minister Christos Folias is scheduled to visit the North African country in the next few days to sign an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation.

Bakoyannis stressed that Athens backs Tunisia's efforts for closer cooperation with the EU and that Euro-Mediterranean cooperation is an important element for bilateral relations.

The foreign minister also referred to Tunisia's participation in the Mediterranean Forum ministerial meeting to take place in Rethymno, Crete, in June.

On his part, the Tunisian foreign minister commented on his country's relations with the EU, stressing that Tunisia was the first southern Mediterranean country to sign the EU association agreement and that beginning in January 2008 it will be a member of the Euro-Mediterranean free trade zone. 

He also pointed out that cooperation within the framework of the EU should not push aside bilateral relations, while he also cited greater tourism exchanges.
Earlier, Abdallah was received by President Karolos Papoulias. 

Source: Athens News Agency

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