Tunisia’s revolution is “genuine and secular” so the EU must do all it can to support a smooth democratic transition, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg.

Speaking during a Maltese-Tunisian joint committee meeting yesterday, Dr Borg said the revolution, which was the catalyst for the Arab Spring, had a great chance of success.

“Europe must put its hands in its pockets to contribute,” Dr Borg said, adding this should not be done in a condescending way but in a way that respected the rich political history of Tunisia.

Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohammed Mouldi Kefi, who was here for the meeting, said Malta had not been friendly but “brotherly” and this was greatly appreciated by the Tunisian people.

“Malta has understood that we now share the same values, not just interests,” he said, adding that Tunisia wanted to enjoy freedom of expression and a multi-party system which was closer to Europe.

He said the Tunisian revolution was an experiment which was not allowed to fail.

“The whole world is watching us. If we fail, dictators all over the world will have the last laugh,” he said, stressing that Tunisia not only needed moral support but financial assistance too.

During his speech, Dr Borg suggested setting up better air links between the two countries. He also announced two packages of scholarships for civil servants and diplomatic staff in advanced English studies and diplomatic studies in Malta.