Tunis: "Declaration of Transition Process" signed

Parties represented in the High Authority for the Achievement of the Revolution Objectives, Political Reform and Democratic Transition (HAARO) signed, on Thursday in Tunis, the "Declaration of Transition  Process," except for the Congress for the Republic (CPR). Initiated by Mr. Yadh Ben Achour, Chairman of the HAARO, the document was adopted after six meetings held between August 5 and September 12 with the participation of 12 parties represented within the HAARO, including the En-Nahdha Movement party and CPR which had pulled out from the Authority to exchange consultation on the democratic transition process in Tunisia. According to Mr. Yadh Ben Achour, the document stands as a roadmap morally compelling to all its signees in order to ensure success of the democratic transition process in Tunisia. Speaking to the national and international media, Mr. Ben Achour said "this initiative is personal and has no connection with the activity of the Authority." It also seeks to re-integrate parties that pulled out from the Authority, he added. This initiative, he added, is also meant to protect the election against any political manoeuvring that might impede its organisation on the date of October 23, 2011. It also aims to initiate a debate between political parties to unify stands so as to ensure the success of democratic process in the country, he underlined. This initiative aims to reassure the public opinion, dispel the fears of the Tunisian society as to the powers and tenure of the Constituent Assembly and stabilise the political climate in the country, he also specified. Moreover, Mr. Yadh Ben Achour said he had informed Caretaker Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi of the circumstances of the launch of this initiative, adding that he will report on this conference to Mr. Caid Essebsi to consider, if necessary, to generalise and widen the scope of this document. Answering journalists' questions, Mr. Yadh Ben Achour said that the initiative had been launched by parties represented in the High Authority for the Achievement of the Revolution Objectives, adding that "it is impossible to bring together all parties present on the national scene to discuss this document." All parties and all independents still have the chance to sign "the Declaration of the Transition Process," he pointed out, adding that "the document engages only the signees." Mr. Ben Achour denied that this initiative had been the result of fears from the Constituent Assembly, saying that it rather is an attempt to strengthen this assembly to dispel confusion on its powers and tenure. The think tank within the HAARO will prepare, upon the request of one of its members, draft internal regulations of the Constituent Assembly to ease its mission, saying that this operation will not impede the process of the Constituent Assembly, since it does not take a lot of time. Secretary-General of the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Maya Jeribi and official spokesman for the Party of Patriotic and Democratic Labour (PTPD) Mohamed Jemour said "this initiative does not meet the call for the organisation of a referendum on the powers of the Constituent Assembly," pointing out that parties' meetings had started as early as August even before the emergence of the idea of organising a referendum.