CRIF ENCOUNTERS TUNISIAN ENVOY

Roger Cukierman highlighted the very close relations between the some 50,000 French Jews of Tunisian origin and their native country. CRIF's Chairman paid homage to the pioneering role of Tunisia's past and present Presidents, Habib Bourguiba and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, in the establishment of relations between Muslim countries and Israel. Cukierman then said he deeply regretted the decision taken by the Tunisian authorities to be among the first to close their Interests Office opened in 1996 in Tel-Aviv.

The Tunisian Ambassador stressed the importance of the links between French Jewish intellectuals and Tunisian intellectuals. A joint symposium will be held at the end of this month, during which the French Jewish writer of Tunisian origin Albert Memmi ill be celebrated. Memmi was awarded the CRIF prize in 1999.