Tunisia, Italy to conduct 60 joint defence activities in 2019

Tunisia and Italy have agreed to conduct 60 joint defence activities in 2019, the Tunisian defence minister said on Monday.

Following a two hour meeting with his Italian counterpart,  Elisabetta Trenta, the Tunisian minister, Abdulkerim ez-Zubeydi, said the two countries have also agreed to continue cooperation in the field of training noting that the Italian military academies have in recent years opened their doors to Tunisian officers.

“In late 2018, a centre for vocational training in diving and underwater activities will be established,” he said.

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The minister added that the relationship between Tunisia and Italy is more institutional than on the level of governments, calling on the need to continue cooperation, especially in the development of southern Tunisia and to provide jobs and a decent life for Tunisians to reduce migration to Europe.

According to the minister, the meeting also addressed the security situation in Libya because of its importance for Tunisia, Italy and the European Union.

Prior to her meeting with ez-Zubeydi, Trenta met Tunisian President Béji Caid Essebsi to discuss the future of bilateral relations between the two countries.