I. Diplomatic Relations

Greek-Tunisian bilateral relations are characterised by mutual appreciation and understanding. The two countries, sharing common values and principles, have developed a wide range of activities within the framework of this political, cultural, educational, military, and trade cooperation, and through the EU and the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership they have a great scope for developing their cooperation. In the political and, in particular, in the economic-trade sector there is great scope for development.

II. Contractual Framework [1]: Major interstate agreements

• Greek-Tunisian trade agreement, Tunis 2/3/1960.
• Economic, Technical and Scientific Cooperation agreement, Athens, 26/5/1962.
• Shipping agreement, Tunis, 9/7/1966.
• General Agreement on Economic, Educational and Technical Cooperation, Tunis, 27/4/1976.
• Greek-Tunisian educational cooperation agreement, Athens, 8/7/1987.
• Agreement on the mutual promotion and protection of investments, Tunis, 31/10/1992.
• Cooperation agreement on tourism matters, Tunis, 19/2/1992.
• Framework agreement on matters of sports cooperation, Tunis, 10/5/1993.
• Agreement of bilateral military cooperation, Tunis, 3/9/1998.

III. Cultural relations

Tunisia desires and seeks the strengthening of its relations with EU member-state Greece, and, in general, the deepening of its relations (political and economic) with the EU, thus coming closer to European structures. There is often cooperation and/or reciprocity with regard to mutual support for the two countries candidacies in various fora. The most important recent Tunisian support for a Greek candidacy was for the seat  of non-permanent member at the UN Security Council for the period 2005-2006.

In terms of high-level official visits, we note the following visits: in April 2001, the then Tunisian Foreign Minister Mr. Ben Yahia visited our country. On Greeces part, there was a visit by the then Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Andreas Loverdos, in October 2003, within the framework of the 8th Greek-Tunisian Joint Interministerial Committee. The two most recent visits to Tunis by Greek Deputy Ministers were those of Deputy Finance Minister Mr. Christos Folias (19/11/2004), as part of a campaign to promote the candidacy of Thessaloniki for EXPO 2008, and Deputy Culture Minister, competent for Sports, Mr. Giorgos Orfanos (24-26/1/2005), within the framework of the organisation of the 19th World Handball Championship in Tunis. There were also visits by Foreign Minister Mr. P Molyviatis, as head of the Greek delegation to the Euro-Mediterranean Forum (Hammamet, Tunisia, 1-2/10/2005)  and the Minister for Transport and Communications, Mr. Michalis Liapis, as head of the Greek delegation at the World Summit on the Information Society (Tunis, 16-18/11/2005).

Within the framework of regional cooperation, Tunisia [2] has not only played an active role as member of the Arab League (it held the League Presidency through the end of March 2005), the Organisation of African Unity (African Union) and Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), but is also one of the six Mediterranean countries which has a dialogue with NATO and the WEU, and it is an observer to the OECD and the BSEC. It is a member of the UN and its relations with the EU are developed. It is active within the Barcelona Process and also participates in the Mediterranean Forum, and the 5+5 Dialogue.

IV. Economic and Trade Relations

V. Cultural relations

In 2005, Greece sustained its cultural presence in Tunisia as part of the week of European cinema, organised by the Representation of the European Commission in Tunis, in association with the Embassies of EU member states to Tunis. The Greek Embassy, in association with the Friends of Kazantzakis Foundation is expected to organise an event for the promotion of Kazantzakis work in the Institut Francais. There is also a Greek participation in the Diplomatic Bazaar of Tunis, through which participating countries are able to promote products of trade and cultural interest.

VI. The Greek Community

The Greek community in Tunisia has dwindled. It comprises not more than 50 people, who, for the most part, have dual citizenship. Most of them are in Tunis. Some are descendants of the once strong Greek community of businesspeople, traders and sponge divers who used to live in Sfax, Djerba and Tunis. Apart from very few businesspeople, todays Greek community in Tunis mostly includes the Greek wives of Tunisians, who have settled here in the last twenty years.

Tunis is the seat of the Metropolitan of Carthage, which covers a wide region, from north-western Egypt to Mauritania, including Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, without Libya. The restoration of the Cathedral of Saint George in Tunis was financed by the Foreign Ministry. H.E. Alexios was consecrated Metropolitan of Carthage during the recent visit of Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria (27-30.11.2004), which was his first visit outside of Egypt since his election as Patriarch. Finally, apart from the Church of Saint George, there are two other Greek orthodox churches, in Sfax and Djerba, remnants of the once significant Greek presence there.  

VII. Embassy details