On Tuesday, the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on diplomatic missions in its country not to "interfere" in its internal affairs, citing media reports of meetings between foreign diplomats and recently arrested opposition figures.
"Tunisia is keen to facilitate the work and contacts of diplomatic missions accredited to it in order to serve friendship and cooperation relations with brotherly and friendly countries, while adhering to the requirements of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which stipulates the duty of diplomats to respect the laws of the country they are accredited to and not to interfere in its internal affairs," the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry's position came "in the wake of what was circulated in a number of media outlets and social networks regarding tracking some people against the background of their contacts with accredited diplomatic missions in Tunisia."
Local media reported that the detainees met diplomats and representatives of foreign countries in Tunisia.
Communication charges
On Monday, the Secretary-General of the “Tunis Al-Irada Movement” party and a member of the opposition National Salvation Front, Lamia Khamiri, announced that there is a mention in the files of those accused of “conspiring against state security” of “ambassadors of great powers (which she did not name), former and current, and the charge d’affaires of a superpower with whom she communicates.” The accused."
Al-Khamiri asked, during a press conference held by the front, denouncing, "If there was communication, why did the Tunisian state not take any decision, even a small protest?"
And she continued, "If it was proven that diplomats do not carry out diplomatic work and communicate with each other, why were they not expelled (?!).. It is about fabricating a file, nothing more, nothing less."
The European Union had announced that it was following the developments in Tunisia with great concern, noting that it was going through many complications.
The federation added that it hopes that the authorities will be able to find solutions to the challenges facing the country.
He also indicated that the Tunisian file would be discussed at the next meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels next March.