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Friday March 29, 2024

Tunisian embassy celebrates two anniversaries

By Ishrat Hyatt
March 27, 2018

The ambassador of Tunisia, Adel Elarabi and spouse hosted a reception to celebrate the 62nd anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Tunisia and the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Tunisia and Pakistan.

The event was held at their residence and attended by a select group of guests that included diplomats and Pakistanis from the business community and others who have friendly ties with Tunisia. The guest of honour was Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman.

The garden of the venue had been decorated with bright lights and flowers for the occasion but no canopy had been erected which was a good idea; a red carpet guided guests to where the hosts were waiting to welcome them; lively music played and a video screening of the sights and sounds of Tunisia was ongoing throughout.

The cake cutting ceremony took place after the national anthems of both countries were played. Speeches were short and to the point. Extending a warm welcome to his guests, the host said it was a pleasure to have them join in the national day celebrations. He spoke of the cordial ties between Pakistan and Tunisia and how the 60 years of friendship between the two countries was an ever evolving affair, getting stronger by the day and concluded by hoping everyone would enjoy the evening.

The minister thanked his hosts for inviting him to join them on this auspicious occasion; congratulated the government and people of Tunisia on behalf of himself and the government and people of Pakistan, after which he too spoke of the good bilateral relations between the two countries and how efforts were on to improve them further and take them to new heights.

Dinner was served with Tunisian specialties prepared at home and a variety of Pakistani and European provided by a local restaurant, both of which were enjoyed by the guests. It was pleasant to be outdoors and enjoy the weather which remained good throughout the evening, though a storm appeared to be brewing!

Tunisia has always been a popular tourist destination and according to listings, among the attractions are its cosmopolitan capital city of Tunis; the ancient ruins of Carthage; the Muslim and Jewish quarters of Jerba and coastal resorts outside of Monastir. According to The New York Times, Tunisia is ‘known for its golden beaches, sunny weather and affordable luxuries.’

Despite problems and unrest because of the austerity measures underway in the country, in charge of Columbia University's global research centres, Safwan Masri, in an opinion piece says, “Tunisia is where the ‘Arab Spring’ began. Today, seven years on, despite some setbacks, it is the only country in the Arab world where those uprisings have given way to a peaceful transition to a functioning democracy. That's no coincidence. Tunisia's traditions of reform, moderation and tolerance made its revolution uniquely qualified to succeed where others in the region failed.”