Interim PM on working visit to USA on October 3-7

Interim Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi, at the invitation of U.S. President Barack Obama, is to pay a working visit to Washington next October 3-7. The Prime Ministry specifies, in a statement made public on Tuesday, that the visit is "part of the support expressed by the American President, on various occasions, to the Tunisian Revolution and its noble values." It also aims to reassert the U.S. support to Tunisia during the transition period on the path of establishing the principles of Democracy and Freedom, and to back up the country's development efforts. Means to help boost the friendship and bilateral co-operation relations in the different fields and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, including the Libyan issue, are also to be looked at during the working visit. President Obama will receive, on Friday October 7 at the White House, Caretaker Prime Minister Caid Essebsi, which is "the first meeting with a high-level Tunisian official since the fall of the Ben Ali regime, on January 14," reads a statement released on Tuesday by the American Presidency." During his meeting with the Prime Minister, the President wishes to discuss the firm U.S. support to Tunisia's historical transition to democracy," adds the communiqué posted on the While House official website, asserting that this visit will also provide the opportunity to reaffirm the will to develop the friendship relations binding the American and Tunisian peoples. Several American officials visited Tunisia since January, 14 including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.