While Tunisia and Egypt have taken decidedly different paths following uprisings that unseated their respective autocrats, the two heads of state elected to lead their countries will meet on Friday in Abdeen Palace to discuss future collaboration.
Tunisian President, Moncef Marzouki will reportedly visit President Mohamed Morsy in his Heliopolis Presidential Palace on Friday, according to Morsy’s Freedom of Justice Party. Egypt and Tunisia are the first two countries to successfully ouster their presidents through popular revolutions, which adds to the significance of the planned meeting.
The two will be meeting while facing political battles at home. Morsy is in a standoff with the judicial system for his decision to reinstate the dissolved parliament, and Marzouki is squabbling with his prime minster who has recently taken to making decisions without the president’s knowledge.
The meeting which is planned for Friday will come shortly after Morsy’s return from his visit to Saudi Arabia. Morsy will leave for Saudi Arabia this evening following an invitation from the Saudi King.
During his visit, Morsy will meet with King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, as well as a number of senior officials, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Morsy’s foreign relations are not just being forged with neighbouring countries in the region, Morsy will also be hosting the United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday and will attend the African Union Summit in Ethiopia next week.
Morsy recently met with the German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on Tuesday and assured the German official that he will respect the Supreme Constitutional Court’s decision as well as other prominent international agreements, Al-Arabiya reported. The visit comes after Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu became the first foreign minister to meet with Morsy after assuming the presidency.
