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| Kerry Makes Surprise Stop in Tunisia | Kerry Makes Surprise Stop in Tunisia |
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| TUNIS — Secretary of State John Kerry made a surprise visit to Tunisia on Tuesday in a gesture of support for its struggle to establish a democratic system. | TUNIS — Secretary of State John Kerry made a surprise visit to Tunisia on Tuesday in a gesture of support for its struggle to establish a democratic system. |
| Mr. Kerry planned to meet with Tunisia’s caretaker prime minister, Mehdi Jomaa, and its president, Moncef Marzouki. | Mr. Kerry planned to meet with Tunisia’s caretaker prime minister, Mehdi Jomaa, and its president, Moncef Marzouki. |
| “In Tunis, Secretary Kerry will meet with senior officials to discuss the progress made in Tunisia’s democratic transition, and continued U.S. support for the Tunisian government and people,” Jen Psaki, the State Department spokeswoman, said in a statement. | “In Tunis, Secretary Kerry will meet with senior officials to discuss the progress made in Tunisia’s democratic transition, and continued U.S. support for the Tunisian government and people,” Jen Psaki, the State Department spokeswoman, said in a statement. |
| Mr. Kerry does not plan to announce any major new steps to help Tunisia, however. “He is here to listen and find out what more we can do,” a senior American official said on Mr. Kerry’s plane. | Mr. Kerry does not plan to announce any major new steps to help Tunisia, however. “He is here to listen and find out what more we can do,” a senior American official said on Mr. Kerry’s plane. |
| Tunisia’s longtime ruler, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, was ousted in a popular uprising in 2011. And Tunisia was the first nation to elect a government as a result of the Arab Spring. | Tunisia’s longtime ruler, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, was ousted in a popular uprising in 2011. And Tunisia was the first nation to elect a government as a result of the Arab Spring. |
| There have been sharp divisions between the Islamist and secular communities in Tunisia. The nation has been racked by the assassinations of two secular politicians and by street protests. | There have been sharp divisions between the Islamist and secular communities in Tunisia. The nation has been racked by the assassinations of two secular politicians and by street protests. |
| But in contrast to Syria, it has avoided descending into civil war. And unlike Egypt, its secular politicians have not tried to repress and imprison Islamists. | But in contrast to Syria, it has avoided descending into civil war. And unlike Egypt, its secular politicians have not tried to repress and imprison Islamists. |
| As part of a political deal to pave the way for new elections, Tunisia’s Islamist former prime minister, Ali Larayedh of the political party Ennahda, resigned in January. Mr. Jomaa, who has a background in international business and previously served as the minister of industry, was chosen as an interim prime minister. | As part of a political deal to pave the way for new elections, Tunisia’s Islamist former prime minister, Ali Larayedh of the political party Ennahda, resigned in January. Mr. Jomaa, who has a background in international business and previously served as the minister of industry, was chosen as an interim prime minister. |
| Later that month, Tunisia’s National Constituent Assembly overwhelmingly approved a new Constitution that preserves democratic freedoms. | |
| Mr. Kerry planned to fly from Tunisia to Paris later on Tuesday for a meeting this week with Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority. Mr. Kerry has been trying to win Palestinian and Israeli support for a “framework” accord that would set the basic parameters of a comprehensive peace agreement. |