Today, after more than ten years of eclipse, the «Night of Jasmine» is reborn.
What a beautiful symbol when the «spring of Tunis» is still in
the memories of each one! Today, this beautiful initiative allows us
show our solidarity and support to the Tunisian people to greet
his courage and self-denial. For behind the subtle and delicate lightness
There are the victims and the deaths of the Tunisian revolution.
Yes, in recent months, Tunisia has taught a lesson of courage,
a lesson of self-denial to the world; this lesson we make ours. We
have much to learn from what has been committed in this country. And the
presence of 700,000 Tunisians living in France, as well as the 2
million French people who visit Tunisia every year, thanks in particular to
the agencies and tourism operators named tonight, oblige us
and invite us to action.
So I am particularly pleased that this evening honours
from the world of communication and press, but
also from the world of tourism, those that are a “link”
natural and constant between our two countries. In the field of audiovisual
and media - which comes under my jurisdiction - public television
French and Tunisian wish to work together around objectives
shared and jointly produced programs. I remember, dear
Louis Laforge, the 265th issue of Des racines et des ailes
installed its tray in the sumptuous Bardo Museum then in the palace
from Baron d'Erlanger to Sidi Bou Saïd. I do not forget, dear Annick Cojean,
that the Albert London Award – the 73rd honouring a press journalist
Written and the 27th Audiovisual Journalist – to be awarded on May 14
in Tunis. In the hands of journalists, the
understanding of the complex phenomena of today’s world and
the Tunisia of tomorrow.
In this particular phase, I am convinced that culture has a role
It can be the leaven of a democratic society,
it can contribute to economic and social development, to
jobs in all regions of Tunisia, whose heritage is
everywhere so rich and so diverse.
The revolution was also a revelation of the ferment, the vitality, the
the inventiveness of the Tunisian art scene. The personalities present
Tonight is the epitome of this young people who are rising and hoping.
But our attention and support for Tunisia must, beyond this
beautiful evening, to register in the duration. So this is our ambition
to accompany throughout the year the creative effervescence of the
Tunisia, through a cultural program that echoes the
wealth of your talents.
Tunisia’s political transition calls for “new momentum” in our
exchanges. It presupposes a future built together, a shared future.
This is the sense of the cooperative actions that we already have
engaged in all cultural fields, heritage, book, the
performing arts, visual arts, film, initiatives that I have
presented during my visit to Tunis on 3 April.
Because Tunisia has things to tell us, because it has things
to teach us, we responded present. Develop our
artistic and cultural cooperation is the condition for a dialogue
harmonious and serene between our peoples, it is the translation of a will
strong so that the «separate sea» described by Etienne Balibar becomes a
shared territory. This territory is precisely the one
value the «Night of Jasmine».