He pointed out, in the address he delivered on this occasion, that the objective underlying the action of the Change is to build a better future for all Tunisians, men and women, within a cohesive and solidarity-based society that is deeply anchored in its identity and in the foundations of its national personality and is keen on embracing modernity and joining the progress achieved by universal civilisations in all fields.
The Head of State also said that he will remain faithful to his commitment for Tunisia, for its sovereignty and progress, driven by a continuous and ever-renewed determination for reform and modernisation.
He announced a set of decisions providing for the amendment of the Constitution in such a manner as to extend political participation to over half-a-million additional young persons who will be entitled to vote in 2009 and guarantee the possibility for the first official of each political party to run for the presidential election of 2009.
The President of the Republic also exhorted political parties to rely, in the first place, on their own capacities and their grassroots action, as well as on their commitment to be in touch with the citizens' concerns.
In this regard, he underlined that the Constitutional Democratic Rally, which was entrusted with the mission of Change and reform, has indeed been up to the confidence and to the trust placed in it, announcing, in this respect, his decision to launch the work of national committees for the preparation of the fifth Rally Congress since the Change and place it under the motto of the "Challenge:" the challenge of overcoming obstacles to achieve the objectives, embrace excellence and join the rank of developed countries.
Evoking the special status of youth in the civilisational project of the Change and the central position in its choices for the present and for the future, president Zine el Abidine Ben Ali gave instructions for launching, today, a comprehensive dialogue with youth under the motto " Tunisia First," and organise local and regional forums in which all categories and formations of Tunisian youth, at home and abroad, shall be involved and to be crowned with a national forum to be held next September.
He pointed out that the results of this dialogue will serve as a reference for the elaboration of a national youth strategy for the coming stage. In this regard, the Head of State exhorted all means of information and communication to interact with this dialogue saying: " we want this dialogue to be free from taboos or censorship on opinion and expression, respecting the national constants and our society's conventional ethical values."
He pointed out the need to highlight Tunisia's identity and its civilisational and national values to give the principles of openness, moderation, tolerance and modernity their due place among these constants.
The President of the Republic also reminded of the importance granted by the Change to employment as a common objective and a priority in all sector-based policies, expressing the hope that the national consultation on employment, which he had ordered the organisation, on the 20th anniversary of the Change, will offer the opportunity for all partners to engage in an in-depth dialogue on the major issues related to employment, and to propose practical solutions in order to make optimum use of the youth capacities in the economic cycle.
In this context, the President of the Republic gave instructions for launching this consultation at the local and regional levels, so that its results will be taken into consideration in the interregional consultations to be organised later in preparation for the national conference on employment.
The Head of State also reminded of the national consultation he had ordered to organise, on the same occasion, on the modernisation of the civil service and the consolidation of its capacity to adapt to changes by launching today this consultation, calling for expanding its scope so that it involves the various parties concerned while drawing from the experiences of the more developed countries in this field.
He also reasserted the determination, in this new stage, to overcome difficulties, step up action and effort and work more and better, underlining that devotion to serving Tunisia, to defending its integrity and to preserving its gains is a sacred duty for all Tunisians.
The ceremony was attended by the first vice-president of the RCD, the prime minister, the speakers of the Chamber of Deputies and Chamber of Advisers, the Politburo members and the government members.
Were also invited to this ceremony, the secretary-generals of political parties, the presidents of national organisations, official bodies and consultative councils as well as several activists and national figures.
