On the picture H. E. Habib Essid and H. E. Karim Ben Becher.
By Roy Lie A Tjam.
On the occasion of the visit of H.E. Mr. Habib Essid, Tunisian Head of Government, and to celebrate the Nobel Peace Prize 2015, the Ambassador of the Tunisian Republic in the Netherlands H.E. Ambassador Mr. Karim Ben Becher hosted a Peace Night. The solemn ceremony took place at the Great Hall of Justice of the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Mr. Essid’s high-level delegation, including a number of cabinet Ministers: Selma Elloumi Rekik, Sonia M’barek and Youssef Chahed, came to the City of Peace & Justice for a wide-ranging visit.
One part of the trip was to participate in a ceremony to pay homage to the Quartet Tunisian, lauréat du prix Nobel de la Paix, i.o.w. the Tunisian Nobel laureates. Among the dignitaries in attendance was Mr. Jozias van Aartsen, Mayor of the City of The Hague.
The program consisted of speeches and music. The opening remarks were delivered by Ambassador Karim Ben Becher.
“In a few days, on March 20, Tunisia will celebrate the 60th anniversary of its independence and recovery of national sovereignty.These 60 years of independence coincided with the celebration of 5 years of the democratic process initiated in the wake of the Revolution of 14 January 2011.
Civil society and politicians in Tunisia have shown great wisdom and remarkable maturity to give this process at a crucial time in our history, a character based on consensus, dialogue and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
It is precisely to pay tribute to the resilience of Tunisian civil society and the wisdom of the political actors that the Nobel Committee decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015 as the Quartet of the National Dialogue, represented tonight by prominent members.
The presence here today of Mr.Habib Essid, Head of Government, the high-level delegation accompanying him and our distinguished guests in the Great Hall of Justice of the ICJ and the Peace Palace, shows in the best possible way Tunisia’s attachment to peace and justice.
Tunisia’s invoking of an ancient legal tradition and a deep desire to guarantee rights and freedoms from the Constitution of Carthage until the adoption of the new democratic and progressive constitution in January 2014, demonstrated admirably its anchoring the rule of law, despite many challenges.
Our country remains committed to these values and remains convinced that the solidarity and support of friendly nations like the Netherlands is an additional factor of optimism and hope.
Before concluding, I would like to particularly thank our hosts. The Carnegie Foundation has welcomed us to the Peace Palace for the evening in honour of the Nobel Peace Prize 2015, and I would like to thank the International Court of Justice for hosting this ceremony in this magnificent Hall of Justice; two emblematic places of peace and justice so dear to the city of The Hague and to Tunisia.”
The musical intermezzo was given by two noted Tunisian artists: the pianist, composer and arranger Mr. Mohamed Ali Kammoun, and Mr. Nabil Abdmouleh, a master flutist.
Mr. Habib Essid availed himself of the opportunity of being in the ICJ premises to have a meeting with the President a.i of the ICJ Judge Adbulqawi Ahmed Yusuf who was accompanied by Judges Hisashi Owada and Peter Tomka, former Presidents of the Court and Mr Philippe Couvreur, Registrar of the ICJ.
A reception concluded the formidable Peace Night.
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