"By liberalizing its economy and stimulating a growth effort based on exports, while presserving its macro-economic stability, Tunisia has fully profited from its coherent integration within the world economy. This free-market policy is based on a long-term strategy which consists in investing intelligently in education and further enhancing insfrastructure and institutions."
Mr Horst Koehler, IMF Director General
"The progress achieved by Tunisia is remarkable".
"For many years, President Ben Ali has stood for modern Tunisia, which has remained faithful to its traditions and genuinely endeavored to embark on a partnership program with Europe."
"Mr President, allow me to pay tribute to you. Under your leadership, Tunisia has duly become a fully-fledged partner in the modernity process and has rightly tapped all the assets that underlie any form of progress. Put simply: this is the real Tunisian miracle."
French President, Jacques Chirac
Today, the country which seems to play the most conspicuous pioneering role in the Maghrebin region is Tunisia. It is the country that has highest per capita income".
Tunisia is stability and security. All over this country, there does not exist one single region, anywhere in the rural areas, that is not provided with drinking water and electricity. Clearly, the standard of living here is, by far, higher than in any neighbouring country.
Algerian President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika
"Just give me the name of country where women's rights are as well articulated as they are in Tunisia, where development rates profits all the middle class and where the will to respect the different regions is well marked."
Mr Claude Cheysson, former French Minister of Foreign Affairs
"President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a well experienced man who is well acquainted with all the problems prevailing in the area. He contemplates them with wisdom, serenity and clear_sightedness and has an accurate vision of how the future should be."
Mr Jean-Louis Debré, French National Assembly Chairman
I pay tribute to President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali for his steadfast commitment on the path of democracy and human rights in Africa, as well as for his personal endeavor to help in the struggle against racial discrimination.
Mr Jordi Pujol, President of the Autonomous Government in Catalunia
"All these initiatives, which are of paramount importance, and which all aim at helping achieve the welfare of society, have allowed Tunisia to reach, under the leadership of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, an unprecedented and exemplary development level, which entitles it to be at the forefront of emerging countries.
Mr President, we are pleased to congratulate you for all the efficient efforts you have been deploying to butress the democratic process , reinforce the rule of law, consolidate the respect of private and public liberties and consecrate the values of solidarity and tolerance, all within the framework of the Tunisian constitution".
Mrs Gaetana Pace, Secretary General of the Italian League for Human Rights
Tunisia and its citizens have many successful endeavors to celebrate, particularly impressive strides in economic development and reform. Tunisia 's high standards of living and education, and advancement of opportunities for girls and women, stand as testament to its achievements.
Joseph Lieberman
Connecticut
"The unwavering principles characterizing Tunisia's foreign policy, as triggered by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, has made of Tunisia a stable, modern and open country onto the rest of the world".
Mr Alexander Kwasniewski, President of the Republic of Poland
"I am impresssed with the vision of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali who has always advocated more openness and more developed economic cooperation."
Mr William Burns, American Deputy State Secretary, in charge of the MENA region
Tunisia has managed, in a relatively short period of time, to make significant gains on the political, economic, and social fronts.
I salute President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali for his leadership in initiating and supporting several reforms that paved the way for open government. I commend leaders from the public and private sectors for balancing the demands of economic development and social concerns.
Daniel K. Inouye
Hawai
"Under the leadership of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia has prepared the Tunisian citizen to meet the challenges imposed by the struggle against poverty, through the kind of solidarity that we all notice nowadays, and the expression (...) of what is even more important, is that Tunisia has always accepted to share its experience with the rest of the international community".
Mr Martin Melinga Eboutou, Un Social and Economic Council Chairman (ECOSOC)
