Tunisia: Convert part of our debt to Italy to 'investment projects'

Tunisian President Al-Moncef Al-Marzouqi called on Italian authorities to convert part of Tunisia’s debt to Italy into investment projects, a presidential statement said yesterday.

Al-Marzouqi met with Italian President Matteo Renzi in Rome yesterday and discussed a number of security and economic issues. The visit is due to last two days and will include meetings with Italian officials as well as a visit to the Vatican.

According to the statement, the Tunisian president called on his Italian counterpart to provide further support for the transitional phase in Tunisia by converting debts into investments that would prop up the Tunisian economy at this phase.

The two presidents discussed the need for addressing the phenomenon of illegal migration, taking into account the security and developmental perspectives.

They agreed on the need for a political solution to the Libyan crisis, the statement added.