LONDON, Sept. 17, 2009 (TAP) - Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi met, on Wednesday afternoon at the Tunisian embassy in London, with members of the Tunisian community in the United Kingdom.

The prime minister underlined, on the occasion, the special attention President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali lavishes on Tunisian expatriates and his sustained keenness to improve their situation, lend a receptive ear to their concerns and aspirations, strengthen their bonds with the motherland, consolidate the contribution of Tunisian skills abroad to the national development and reinforce Tunisia's attributes of progress and invulnerability.

Mr. Mohamed Ghannouchi also reviewed the different aspects of the development and modernisation process experienced by Tunisia at all levels and the gains it has made. These gains, he said, reflect the pertinent choices and orientations set by President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali and strengthen Tunisia's capacity to take up the challenges and its confidence in the future.

He added that Tunisia relies on all its sons, at home and abroad, to forge ahead on the way of materialising the targets set and win the stakes of the next stage.

The prime minister also stressed the preparations for the next presidential and legislative elections, reviewing the measures the Head of State had taken to guarantee the progress of these electoral events under the best circumstances and make of them a new landmark on the path of promotion of the democratic and pluralist process.

Members of the Tunisian community in the United Kingdom expressed the pride they take in the achievements accomplished by Tunisia since the advent of the Change, which helped it hold an honourable position on the world scene.

They also reiterated their gratitude to President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali and their attachment to his person as the leader of Tunisia's progress to the future and guarantor of the country's development.

They also expressed their commitment to contribute actively to the success of the next presidential elections and materialise the orientations and targets set by President Ben Ali for the next stage.