Western governments courting Tunisia

WASHINGTON, March 29 (UPI) -- Washington is working to support political developments in post-revolution Tunisia through a $100 million cash transfer, the U.S. secretary of state announced.

"I am pleased to announce today that pending congressional notification and review, the United States will provide a $100 million cash transfer to the government of Tunisia for short-term fiscal relief," a statement attributed to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton read.

The funds would finance debt that Tunisia owes the World Bank and African Development Bank. Clinton said that, as Tunisia works through the post-revolutionary phase, Washington was working to accelerate economic growth in the country.

The Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia in December 2010 is credited with sparking the so-called Arab Spring, a series of revolutions that in part helped topple regimes in Egypt, Libya and Yemen. Tunisians voted in a government led by the moderate Islamic party Ennahda during elections last year.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague met with Tunisian Foreign Secretary Rafik Abdessalam in London this week. Hague said he saw an enormous potential for investment in the country.

"We are working with the Tunisian government to create openings in other areas where the U.K. is a global leader, such as renewable energy and financial services and these initiatives in turn would create new job opportunities for the Tunisian people," he said.