In official meetings between the two countries, Interim Prime Ministers El Keib and Jebali committed to bilateral co-operation and partnerships.
Libyan Interim Prime Minister Abdurrahim El Keib called on Tunisian workers and companies to participate in the reconstruction of Libya, promising them plenty of work and investment opportunities.
During his May 17-18th visit to Tunisia, the Libyan leader said that it is time for the two countries to unite to achieve common interests.
"Libya and Tunisia have no choice but to come together in a practical and serious way," he said.
Tunisian Interim Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali responded with a promise that the two countries would soon sign bilateral co-operation and partnership agreements in a number of areas. He explained that support of the Arab Maghreb Union would stem from areas of co-operation between neighbouring countries and then later extend to the countries of the east and west.
During the official meetings, Libyan employment Minister Mustafa Ali Rajabani and his Tunsian counterpart Abdelwahab Maatar discussed the demand for approximately 3,000 Tunisian workers to fill private sector jobs in telecommunications, tourism, health, housing and construction. In addition they discussed plans to train 5,000 young Libyans at Tunisian training and rehabilitation centres.
The common border also dominated a large part of the conversation between the two governments.
Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali deemed the security of the two countries as "interconnected", as it is a prerequisite for success of the democratic transition of the two countries and for achieving economic and social development.
He asserted that was impossible for Tunisia to be a threat to Libya because the two governments were in complete agreement on the necessity of protecting the common border.
"We're in the service of the Libyan people and their revolution," Jebali said as he explained that each country's security is interdependent on the other.
Jebali confirmed his government's readiness to surrender former Libyan Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi Ali Al-Mahmoudi to Libyan authorities, noting that it is "the right of Libya to bring its people to trial".
On this point, El Keib said his government would not embarrass Tunisia in their handling of the issue.
On the topic of illegal immigration from North African countries to the Italian coast, Jebali said that the problem required three-way co-ordination between Tunisia, Libya and Italy, and possibly other European countries.
The two leaders also discussed their nations' interdependence in the fight against terrorism, arms smuggling, drug trafficking, and the illegal transport of food and fuel across the shared border.
Tunisian Interior Minister Ali Larayedh said that the situation on the Tunisia-Libya border was, for the most part, under control, as a result of intensified patrolling and surveillance.
El Keib expressed optimism in regard to Libya's legislative election on June 19th.
The vote will elect a 200 member constitutional council from nearly 1,400 candidates from 71 political parties, according to the Commission for New Elections in Libya.
© Magharebia.com 2012
