THE
TUNISIAN PARTICIPATION IN THE UN PEACE-KEEPING FORCES IN
THE WORLD
Sincere efforts to help the international
community establish peace and security
Thanks to its moderate positions, its rational diplomacy,
its prospective, sound and objective vision, and its attachment
to the respect of international agreements, Tunisia is often
solicited by the United Nations Organization and structures
to support the efforts of the international community for
keeping peace and stability in the world.
This approach adopted by Tunisia under the instructions
of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is best illustrated
through the principled positions and humanitarian actions
taken by Tunisia to defend just causes in the African continent
and the Arab region, as well as through Tunisia's participation
in the UN forces maintaining peace and security in different
regions of the world, in order to disseminate the values
of tolerance, solidarity and mutual assistance among all
humans.
Since the 1960s, Tunisia has participated in several
humanitarian and peace-keeping missions, by sending soldiers
to Cambodia, Namibia, Somalia, Rwanda and Burundi. It also
participated in the Security Council's missions in Congo,
Ethiopia and Sierra Leone.
On the other hand, Tunisia took advantage of its term
of chairmanship in the Security Council to reaffirm its
faithfulness and principled commitment to defending the
causes of the African continent and to finding appropriate
solutions to the conflicts and crises in certain regions
of the Continent.
These orientations are premised upon President Ben Ali's
firm belief in the necessity to settle conflicts through
peaceful means. It is within this context that President
Ben Ali launched his call for the establishment of a mechanism
for the prevention, management and settlement of conflicts
in Africa, and of a similar mechanism in the Arab world.
These initiatives have been favorably welcomed not only
in Africa and the Arab World, but also by the entire international
community.
President Ben Ali, who chaired the Organization of African
Unity from June 1994 to June 1995, has played a key role
in the settlement of conflicts between certain African countries
and in the establishment of peace and stability in the Continent.
Besides, Tunisia has supported all initiatives and good
offices missions accepted by the opposed parties, the conflict
between Eritrea and Ethiopia being a case in point.
During Tunisia's chairmanship of the Security Council,
the Tunisian diplomacy played a decisive role in preserving
peace and security in the world. Its initiatives concerning
the situation in Congo, and its active participation in
the settlement of conflicts in Sierra Leone, Burundi, Somalia
and Central Africa, were particularly welcomed by the international
community.
In parallel, Tunisia has pursued its traditional role
in consolidating cooperation and complementarity among the
UN Organization and its specialized institutions, continental
and regional organizations, and international financial
institutions, with a view to consolidating the foundations
of peace, security and stability in the world.
All these actions and initiatives reflect President
Ben Ali's constant concern to make sure the Tunisian diplomacy
is always active and effective, capable of contributing
to the settlement of conflicts posed on the international
scene, and to the establishment of peace, security and stability
in the world.
