National security council focuses on Tunisia’s security situation

The National Security Council took stock, as it met on Tuesday, of Tunisia’s security situation and the latest developments in Libya’s crisis; it also focused attention on violence in custody centres.
In a statement to the press at the end of the meeting, Minister Delegate in charge of Security Ridha Sfar said Tunisia is still facing terrorist threats, particularly along pockets on the border with Algeria where suspicious movements had been spotted on many occasions.
Terrorism is being reinforced as part of a plan devised by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) which attempts to dismantle the modern State, he pointed out.
The Crisis Response Unit at the Prime Ministry had developed strategies that security and military forces started implementing at the required pace at the borders as well as inland.
Sfar indicated that the watchword of the security approach is no longer reaction but rather initiative as security forces started attacking terrorists and chasing them. In this vein, he commended the role of intelligence services in foiling terrorist attacks.
On the impact of the Libyan crisis on Tunisia, the official said “Tunisia remains a welcoming sanctuary for Libyans but is committed to a non-interference policy ad regards Libya’s domestic affairs.”
The threats relating to Libya “still persist because of radical organisations on its territory,” he further indicated.
The design of these groups does not only include Libya but the whole region for they “seek to rid of the concept of modern State to carry out their own project,” Sfar highlighted.
In another connection, the Minister Delegate said human rights activists drew the attention of the President of the Republic to the “phenomenon” of violence in custody centres.
The Interior Ministry had embarked on reform since 2011, he stated in this regard.
“Respecting Human rights and abiding by relevant international conventions is a priority for the ministry,” he added; justice will be done for whomever endured violence.
“We will not allow the use of violence against detainees, even in terrorism cases,” he said.
There are significant threats but security forces and the military are exerting major efforts and anticipating on the ground which accounts for their success, interim Premier Mehdi Jomaa highlighted in turn.
Foreign Minister Mongi Hamdi pointed out that the meeting of the National Security Council looked at the situation in the border crossing of Ras Jedir.
Some 12,800 Egyptians and expatriates from 34 other nationalities were repatriated “thanks to the joint efforts of the military and customs,” Foreign Minister Mongi Hamdi further said. “This helped avert arms trafficking and prevent unwanted people from crossing.”
A major decision of the meeting consists in putting security and military forces under the same command, especially along the Tunisia-Algeria border, so as to deal more easily with security threats and fight terrorism more efficiently, he announced.
The meeting was chaired by Caretaker President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Moncef Marzouki, in the presence of interim PM Mehdi Jomaa and President of the National Constituent Assembly Mustapha Ben Jaafar. It was also attended by the Foreign Minister, the National Defence Minister, the Minister Delegate in charge of Security as well as military and security officials.