French, German FMs to visit Tunisia April 24-25

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, accompanied by his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, will visit Tunisia on April 24-25 to convey a strong message of political support for democratic reform in that country, an official source said Tuesday. The two ministers will "welcome the historic step accomplished by Tunisia with the adoption of the constitution," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Fabius and Steinmeier will also seek to "encourage Tunisians to persevere on the path of dialogue and compromise" and move forward with the organisation of "free and transparent elections" in line with an agreed schedule. France and Germany will also "reaffirm European support" for Tunisia as it goes through the transition process. Part of the visit will include a trip to the high-speed Tunisian rail network that is under construction. The European nations, led by France and Germany, are financing 60 percent of the project. Tunisia is the third stop on a broad visit by the two ministers which will also take them to Central Europe