US delegation discusses situation in Tunisia and Libya with Ghannouchi

The Tunisian Ennahda (Renaissance) Movement has revealed that its president, Shaikh Rashid Ghannouchi, met with a delegation from the US state department last Friday. The agenda for the meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken included the current situation in Tunisia and the possibility of supporting dialogue between the conflicting parties in Libya.

According to Ennahda’s media department, Mr Blinken expressed his appreciation of the Tunisian experiment in compatibility and democratic transition as well as the role of the Renaissance Movement and its leader in the success of this transition. He said that the United States is willing to help Tunisia in its efforts to consolidate democracy and support the development of the country.

With regards to Libya, the US official stressed the importance of successful dialogue in Libya and the significance of reaching peaceful solutions between the parties involved. This should lead to the establishment of a national unity government on the basis of compatibility and coexistence, added Blinken.

The meeting was also attended by Rafik Abd Al-Salam, Hussein Al-Jaziri and Lotfi Zaytone from Ennahda and the US Ambassador in Tunis, Jacob Walles.

Shaikh Rashid Ghannouchi is one Islamic leader who has maintained dialogue with the West in general and with the United States in particular. His vision in dealing with the political protests that followed the Arab Spring has received approbation in many Western and international political institutions, and he is known as a symbol of political consensus in Tunisia.