— The second international cryptology conference is currently taking place at Gammarth north of Tunis. The conference which is placed under the patronage of the Ministry of Communication Technologies was opened on Monday and will continue till June 25.

The conference which is held at the initiative of the Tunisian national agency of electronic certification (ANCE) in partnership with the International Association for Cryptologic Research (IACR) ,will examine ways of promoting computer security as well as boosting cryptologic research in Africa.

Opening the "AfricaCrypt 2009â-' Conference, Mrs Lamia Cheffai Sghaier, the Secretary of State in charge of computers , the internet and free software stressed the importance Tunisia gives to research in the sector of cryptology and its promotion of computer applications in electronic administration and remote services.

She said that Tunisia was able to set up with success the legal framework to cope with the fast developing technological mutations. Among these she noted the setting up of the computer security code, the law of electronic trade, the creation of the ANCE and that of the national agency of computer security (ANSI).

Most of these realisations have made it possible to ensure the online processing of some 80% of the fiscal declarations of enterprises and to submit more than 3500 electronic signatures, she added.

On his part Mr Bart Preneel, the IACR Chairman, noted the quality of the conference which distinguishes itself by its rich technological and scientific content.