Tunis - Azhar Jarboui
Tunisian Prime Minister Ali Larayedh Tunis - Azhar Jarboui Tunisian Prime Minister Ali Larayedh and several of his senior government ministers have arrived in Germany ahead of a Tunisian-German Economic Forum over the weekend. The Tunisian official is scheduled to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President of the Bundestag (German Parliament), Norbert Lammert. Larayedh will also be taking part in a panel discussion at the Institute of Political Science, where delegates will discuss the legacy of the so-called Arab spring and the democratic change in Tunisia. In a statement, the Tunisian government said PM Larayedh had received an official invitation from German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, during his trip to Tunis in March. Chancellor Merkel cancelled a scheduled visit to Tunisia last October, citing security concerns. Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki visited Germany in March, and obtained a pledge from the German government to turn their debts into investments, and carry out development projects in poorer areas in Tunisia.