Tunisian president calls for int'l support at G7 summit

Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi on Monday called for international support for the country to successfully pursue democratic transition at the ongoing the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Germany.

Essebsi, an honorary guest of the summit, gave a speech in the meeting in which he addressed Tunisia's successes and challenges.

He called on the G7 leaders to draft a support plan for Tunisia to help the country successfully pursue the democratic transition.

Such a process would take a longer time without international support, Essebsi said.

The international support should focus on the ongoing challenges Tunisia is experiencing, such as economic development and terrorism threats, he said.

"Tunisia is the first country in the southern Mediterranean Sea which succeeds in its transition and strives to join democratic nations. And only the countries, with which we can share the same values of freedom and democracy, are able to help implant democracy and confront economic and social challenges," Essebsi said.

In the same speech, Essebsi emphasized severity of the country's unemployment rate since the popular uprisings in 2010 and 2011, as 620,000 Tunisians are registered unemployed.

Meanwhile, Tunisia's debts have increased by 58 percent during the past four years given continuous social unrest.

The 41st edition of the G7 summit was attended by leaders of Canada, France, German, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States, and international decision-makers such as representatives of the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund and the European Union.

Besides traditional economic, foreign and security topics, the agenda of the Elmau summit will also focus on global environment and health issues. Endit