OTHMAN JERANDI, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Tunisia, said that the COVID-19 pandemic had emphasized the role of the United Nations in tackling global challenges.  He expressed gratitude for the show of international solidarity during these difficult times.  “Hope cannot be built on nationalism and insularity,” and it can only emerge from a strong multilateralism, he added. Solutions must be found to achieve a balanced recovery in line with the Secretary‑General’s Our Common Agenda report.  He said the recent intervention of President Kaïs Saïed was in response to the political polarization which threatened democracy in Tunisia.  He asserted that democracy remains “irreversible” in Tunisia.  His Government also prioritized the fight against corruption to stabilize the State.

He underscored that the revitalization of the General Assembly was needed to deliver on Our Common Agenda.  The adoption of Security Council resolution 2532 (2020) appealing for a global ceasefire with Tunisia’s support was a demonstration of the country’s ability to remain “a force of positive proposals in the international system”, he said.  Commenting on several international crises, he indicated that Tunisia would keep supporting Libya in its efforts to restore security and stability. He called on the international community to end the suffering of the Palestinian people, stressing that the violation of their rights is unacceptable.  In the Arab region, he raised concerns about the situation in Syria and Yemen. He also stressed that Tunisia was aligned with the Africa Union’s Agenda 2063.

He invited the international community to continue working together against terrorism and climate change. In this regard, Tunisia will host several international conferences such as the eighteenth Francophonie Summit in 2021 and the eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in 2022.