OSCE Secretary General congratulates Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet on winning the Nobel Peace Prize

VIENNA, 9 October 2015 – The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize 2015 to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet is a recognition of the crucial role civil society plays in supporting democratization and maintaining national unity, said OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier today as he congratulated the Quartet.

“The presence of a strong civil society is and always has been a major factor in pushing towards the achievement of a democratic project in a given country, and this is particularly true in the case of Tunisia,” said Zannier.

“The OSCE’s 57 participating States and 11 Partners for Co-operation have recognized the importance of respecting and promoting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of their citizens, and the importance of a strong and free civil society in attaining this goal. We pay tribute to the civil society in Tunisia for inspiring those who promote peaceful political processes in the region and beyond.”

Tunisia is one of the OSCE’s 11 Partners for Co-operation.