Moncef Marzouki : "The absence of the Maghreb is a geostrategic anomaly "

 Expressing his "indignation" at this situation the Tunisian president said that the "blockages are more psychological than real." That is why he considers it imperative to "overcome it one way or another."
 
His answer is that: "I proposed to circumvent, especially with regard to disputes between Algeria and Morocco, to return once the other problems solved."
 
President Marzouki referred to when he made his tour a few months ago in the three Maghreb countries,recalling that he had proposed to the Maghreb leaders. "Working on the things on which we agree, and leave aside those that we do not agree" he had recommended. The Tunisian president  lamented the delay in this region of the world that has all the advantages including  linguistic, religious, sociological and geographical  with which to meet the challenge of integration.
 
"We are the least integrated region in the world with a share of around 2%, while in Latin America or Asia, integration into regional groupings is very large, ranging from 30 to 80% for Europe" he said.
 
Referring  to the failure toimplement the Arab Maghreb Union, the Tunisian president recalled that: "At the last summit of the 5 +5  in Malta, the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso challenged me on this point by saying that he did not understand how the Maghreb can not be formed. I saw in his eyes indignation. To him Europe awaits the creation of this regional group, which will be a market of one hundred million inhabitants, instead of having to deal with several smaller markets, "he said, claiming that his indignation was "because the Maghreb is a strategic necessity."
 
For him, "the development of the Algerian people, the Moroccan people, the Tunisian people, etc ... depends on this regional integration." Moncef  Marzouki  said while deploring the delay in its realisation,  which he described as "indispensable". Tunisia "will make sure that space is constituted  for the Maghreb, because it is the interest of Tunisia and the interest of all countries in the region."

Replying to a question about the threat of salafist violence, President Marzouki said that the Tunisian government had underestimated the threat posed by the salafists and confirmed that they damaged the image of  Tunisia which alerted international press coverage and damaged tourism.However he asserted that they would not affect the Republic or people's life style and the army and police would not allow the salafists to achieve their objectives,he said.
 
Concerning  the strictly bilateral relationship with Algeria, the successor to Ben Ali believes it is doing well  "We attach great importance to our relations with Algeria, and I can tell you they have never been better."
 
The convergence of Tunisia and Algeria on international issues is a sign of this healthy relationship. Especially on Mali. "We share the position of Algeria, and military intervention should be considered only as a last and final resort" he said.