CARTHAGE (TAP) - President Moncef Marzouki conferred, on Thursday at the Carthage Palace, with Secretary-General of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) Abdessalem Jrad who said that the meeting had focused on ways to give a fresh impetus to political life and meet the people's expectations, in materialisation of the Revolution objectives.

In a statement after the meeting, the UGTT Secretary-General added that he had reviewed with the President of the Republic such urgent issues as employment, regional balance and the need for a co-operation to identify efficient solutions to the difficult economic situation the country is facing.

Mr. Jrad reiterated the labour organisation's readiness to contribute to achieving national solidarity, guiding concerns and identifying the needed solutions to face up to the challenges posed, in such a manner as to guarantee, he said, "a better future for Tunisia, the country of democracy and freedom."

The President of the Republic emphasised, for his part, the need to step up consultation and dialogue with representatives of this major organisation, stressing the key role that the UGTT could play to ensure success of the next constituent stage which, he argued, "requires combined efforts of all parties and all active forces of the nation."

Mr. Moncef Marzouki reasserted the importance of "a social truce" at this particular stage, given the delicate and decisive situation the country is living through, which is likely to achieve social peace, the only guarantee for the return of investment and the launch of new job-generating projects, he said.