On 18 May 2021, political consultations were held in a video-conference format between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Tunisia. The consultations were co-chaired by the Under-Secretary of State, Political Director Jānis Mažeiks, and the State Secretary of Tunisia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Mohamed Ali Al-Naftali.
Jānis Mažeiks commended the active political dialogue between Latvia and Tunisia, extending again an invitation for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad to come to Latvia on a visit.
The diplomats agreed that there is good potential for expanding business cooperation between Latvia and Tunisia in the areas of information and communication technologies, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and tourism. They agreed that to fully unlock such potential, bilateral agreements in the sectors of transport and education should be concluded and a double taxation convention should be signed.
Discussions also touched on the current state of play in efforts to address the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as regional cooperation in the context of the relationship between the EU and its southern neighbours, as well as in the Baltic Sea region.
Jānis Mažeiks and Mohamed Ali Al-Naftali shared opinions on latest developments in the Middle East Peace Process and Libya.
These were the first political consultations that have taken place between Latvia and Tunisia.