Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg held official talks in Tunisia with the country’s new government this morning.

The first meeting was with Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi. Other meetings were with Planning and International Cooperation Minister Nouri Jouini, Foreign Affairs Secretary Radhouane Nouisser and Political Reform High Commission President Yadh Ben Achour.

Dr Borg is one of the first European Ministers to visit Tunisia since the latest developments that took place in Tunisia.

In his two-day visit, the minister also met Maltese businessmen who operate in Tunisia. And following the assassination of Polish priest Fr Marek Marius Rybinski yesterday morning in Manouba, the minister also visited the two Maltese Salesians who have been working with Fr Marek for the past years.

Tunisia is supporting the 5+5 meeting to be held in Malta later this year

During this meeting, heads of governments meet to discuss the future of the Mediterranean zone.

The 5+5 is made up of Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Mauritania, Algiers, Tunisia, Morocco and Libya.

The meetings is a means of informal political dialogue between countries on both sides of the Mediterranean, although two of the countries involved – Portugal and Mauritania – have no Mediterranean coast.

Minister Borg was accompanied by Malta’s Ambassador to Tunis, Vicky Ann Cremona.