On 16 December, a group of young diplomats from Tunisia visited NATO Headquarters in Brussels, on invitation by NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division. The program of the visit consisted of a series of informative briefings on topical issues of NATO’s current agenda. It concluded with the turned-to-become traditional for all visiting groups from Tunisia meeting with the Bulgarian Permanent Representative, Ambassador Churov. Bulgaria has taken up the functions of a Contact Point Embassy (CPE) for Tunisia for the period 01.01.2009-31.12.2010.

Ambassador Churov briefed the group on the main results of the recent NATO Summit in Lisbon – on issues like Afghanistan, Russia, Missile Defence, Strategic Concept, NATO’s reform, partnerships policy, etc. The perspectives for the development of NATO-Tunisia cooperation, particularly in the areas of training and education and fight against terrorism, the new approach vis-à-vis NATO-Russia relations, the situation in Afghanistan and the efforts of the international community to the stabilization and reconstruction of the country, were among the issues of specific interest for the Tunisian diplomats.

In response to a raised question, the Bulgarian Permanent Representative pointed out the excellent bilateral relations as one of the key arguments for Bulgaria’s choice to take up the duties of NATO’s Contact Point Embassy in Tunisia.

With a view to the conclusion of these functions at the end of the year, the International Secretariat expressed its gratitude for Bulgaria’s contribution to the development of the contacts between the Alliance and Tunisia over the last two years and for the good cooperation with the Bulgarian Delegation to NATO.