TUNIS - The Tunisian and Algerian peoples are proudly commemorating, on Monday, the 52nd anniversary of the memorable events of Sakiet Sidi Youssef, during which the two brotherly peoples' blood mingled for the sake of dignity and freedom.
The commemoration of these events, which will be forever a symbol of solidarity, brotherhood and shared destiny between the two peoples, represents a model for the future generations and an opportunity to endeavour to entrench values of loyalty to the homeland on the one hand and keep on fostering bridges of co-operation and complementarity and enhancing the relations of brotherhood binding the two peoples, on the other.
Observance of this anniversary coincides with a significant development in bilateral co-operation, particularly in the economic and trading sectors reflected in a rise of trade exchanges in the last year.
Hence, the volume of exchanges reached 1.877 million dinars last year, compared with less than 600 million dinars in 2006. The number of Tunisian companies that have invested in Algeria reached 60, operating in the industry and services sectors.
This evolution reflects the sincere will of the two countries' leaders, President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali and his brother President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to boost bilateral co-operation in different fields.
In addition, the commitment of the two countries' businessmen and facilitation set up in foreign trade procedures and tariffs have contributed in turn to achieve these remarkable results.
Indeed, the preferential commercial agreement concluded at the last session of the high join committee provides for total exemption of customs duties imposed on Algerian products marketed in Tunisia.
It also exempts a list of Tunisian products from customs duties totally and offers a 40% reduction to a second list of products.
These significant measures and the sustained pace of exchange of visits between the two countries' officials, the regular holding of joint committee meetings and participation in economic events and fairs held in both countries show the determination of both sides to boost bilateral relations.
They also consecrate the firm will to achieve complementarity on the path of Maghreb edification which President Ben Ali places on the top of his concerns.
The Sakiet Sidi Youssef events whose commemoration is a living testimony of the active cohesion and solidarity between Tunisian and Algerian peoples had marked the common history of all the region and will always impact on the edification of the Arab Maghreb.
The shared historical and civilisational heritage and the cultural, linguistic and religious similarity of Maghreb countries, along with the diversity of their economic bases, the human potentials and natural resources they have are as many factors that prompt the Arab Maghreb to achieve complementarity, integration and invulnerability.
© Agence Tunis Afrique Presse 2010
