Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TUNIS2418
2005-10-31 15:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tunis
Cable title:
CONTINUED GLOWING TUNISIAN PRESS COVERAGE OF FM
how-toP 311515Z OCT 05 FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9107
UNCLAS TUNIS 002418
STATE FOR NEO/FO (GRAY),NEA/MAG (LAWRENCE),NEA/PPD
(FERNANDEZ, SMITH, AGNEW),NEA/PI (MULENEX, KIRBY),NEA/PA,
NEA/IPA, I/GNA, DRL, CWG-PD, EB/CIP (SHIPMAN)
NSC FOR POUNDS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO PREL PGOV ECON TS
SUBJECT: CONTINUED GLOWING TUNISIAN PRESS COVERAGE OF FM
ABDALLAH'S VISIT TO THE US
Ref Tunis 2353
UNCLAS TUNIS 002418
STATE FOR NEO/FO (GRAY),NEA/MAG (LAWRENCE),NEA/PPD
(FERNANDEZ, SMITH, AGNEW),NEA/PI (MULENEX, KIRBY),NEA/PA,
NEA/IPA, I/GNA, DRL, CWG-PD, EB/CIP (SHIPMAN)
NSC FOR POUNDS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO PREL PGOV ECON TS
SUBJECT: CONTINUED GLOWING TUNISIAN PRESS COVERAGE OF FM
ABDALLAH'S VISIT TO THE US
Ref Tunis 2353
1. The glowing Tunisian press coverage of FM Aballah's visit
to the US (detailed in reftel) continued with placements of
another article on FM Abdallah's activities in the US in all
but one daily newspapers on the weekend of October 22-23.
While headlines differed slightly, the text of the
accompanying articles in all newspapers was that of the
government's press agency, TAP. Translation of the TAP
article in is para 3.
2. Headlines included:
"The political impact of Ben Ali's accomplishments extends
beyond its borders." "Common will to support the friendly
relationship between the two countries." "Washington praises
the Tunisian help for the Hurricane Katrina victims"
Privately owned Arabic language daily "Ash Shourouq" (10/23)
"Minister of Foreign Affairs meets with high level American
officials: delight in the exceptional relationship and
praise for Ben Ali's accomplishments" government-owned
Arabic language daily "As Sahafa" (10/22)
"Common political will to reinforce friendly relations
between the two countries." Privately owned French language
daily "Le Quotidien" (10/22)
"Gordon England: The political influence of President Ben
Ali is remarkable and greatly surpasses the geographic
proportions of Tunisia" ruling party paper "Le Renouveau"
(10/22)
"MFA meetings in Washington: Intense Tunisian-American
meetings on all current issues" government-owned French
language daily "La Presse" (10/22)
"Friendly Relations and Fruitful Cooperation" Privately
owned French language daily "Le Temps" (10/22)
3. Begin translation:
"During his visit to Washington, Mr. Abdelwaheb Abdallah,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, had a number of meetings with
high officials in the American administration and with
members of the US Congress.
At the White House, the Minister of Foreign Affairsr met
with Mr. J.D. Crouch, Deputy National Security Adviser to
President Bush. The meeting was an opportunity to review the
friendly bilateral relations between the United States and
the republic of Tunisia and to highlight the political will
of both countries to further reinforce them. It was also an
opportunity for consultation on regional and international
current issues.
Mr. Abdelwaheb Abdallah also met with Mr. Gordon England,
Deputy Secretary of Defense. They congratulated each other
on the excellent bilateral friendly relations and fruitful
cooperation both in political and military fields. On this
occasion, Mr. Gordon England extended to the Minister of
Foreign Affairs the thanks of the US Government for the help
received from Tunisia for the victims of Hurricane Katrina,
qualifying this as an authentic gesture of friendship. He
praised President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's achievements,
which transcend the geographic boundaries of Tunisia.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs also met with Mark Kirk,
Republican Congressman from Illinois and member of the House
Budget Committee, and with Marilyn Musgrave, Republican
Congresswoman from Colorado and president of the
Subcommittee for Small Business Enterprises. The Minister
of Foreign Affairs presented his hosts with the political,
social and economic development achievements that took place
in Tunisia and exchanged with them views on regional and
international issues of common interest.
The Ambassador of Tunisia in Washington offered an Iftar in
honor of the Minister of Foreign Affairs which was attended
by a large number of high-ranking officials and friends of
Tunisia, among whom were the Deputy Secretary of State for
International Organizations, the Deputy Secretary of State
for the Middle East, Congressman Charles Taylor, chairman of
the Sub-Committee for Interior and Environmental Affairs,
and Mrs. Esther Coopersmith, a well known figure in
Washington DC."
HUDSON
STATE FOR NEO/FO (GRAY),NEA/MAG (LAWRENCE),NEA/PPD
(FERNANDEZ, SMITH, AGNEW),NEA/PI (MULENEX, KIRBY),NEA/PA,
NEA/IPA, I/GNA, DRL, CWG-PD, EB/CIP (SHIPMAN)
NSC FOR POUNDS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO PREL PGOV ECON TS
SUBJECT: CONTINUED GLOWING TUNISIAN PRESS COVERAGE OF FM
ABDALLAH'S VISIT TO THE US
Ref Tunis 2353
1. The glowing Tunisian press coverage of FM Aballah's visit
to the US (detailed in reftel) continued with placements of
another article on FM Abdallah's activities in the US in all
but one daily newspapers on the weekend of October 22-23.
While headlines differed slightly, the text of the
accompanying articles in all newspapers was that of the
government's press agency, TAP. Translation of the TAP
article in is para 3.
2. Headlines included:
"The political impact of Ben Ali's accomplishments extends
beyond its borders." "Common will to support the friendly
relationship between the two countries." "Washington praises
the Tunisian help for the Hurricane Katrina victims"
Privately owned Arabic language daily "Ash Shourouq" (10/23)
"Minister of Foreign Affairs meets with high level American
officials: delight in the exceptional relationship and
praise for Ben Ali's accomplishments" government-owned
Arabic language daily "As Sahafa" (10/22)
"Common political will to reinforce friendly relations
between the two countries." Privately owned French language
daily "Le Quotidien" (10/22)
"Gordon England: The political influence of President Ben
Ali is remarkable and greatly surpasses the geographic
proportions of Tunisia" ruling party paper "Le Renouveau"
(10/22)
"MFA meetings in Washington: Intense Tunisian-American
meetings on all current issues" government-owned French
language daily "La Presse" (10/22)
"Friendly Relations and Fruitful Cooperation" Privately
owned French language daily "Le Temps" (10/22)
3. Begin translation:
"During his visit to Washington, Mr. Abdelwaheb Abdallah,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, had a number of meetings with
high officials in the American administration and with
members of the US Congress.
At the White House, the Minister of Foreign Affairsr met
with Mr. J.D. Crouch, Deputy National Security Adviser to
President Bush. The meeting was an opportunity to review the
friendly bilateral relations between the United States and
the republic of Tunisia and to highlight the political will
of both countries to further reinforce them. It was also an
opportunity for consultation on regional and international
current issues.
Mr. Abdelwaheb Abdallah also met with Mr. Gordon England,
Deputy Secretary of Defense. They congratulated each other
on the excellent bilateral friendly relations and fruitful
cooperation both in political and military fields. On this
occasion, Mr. Gordon England extended to the Minister of
Foreign Affairs the thanks of the US Government for the help
received from Tunisia for the victims of Hurricane Katrina,
qualifying this as an authentic gesture of friendship. He
praised President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's achievements,
which transcend the geographic boundaries of Tunisia.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs also met with Mark Kirk,
Republican Congressman from Illinois and member of the House
Budget Committee, and with Marilyn Musgrave, Republican
Congresswoman from Colorado and president of the
Subcommittee for Small Business Enterprises. The Minister
of Foreign Affairs presented his hosts with the political,
social and economic development achievements that took place
in Tunisia and exchanged with them views on regional and
international issues of common interest.
The Ambassador of Tunisia in Washington offered an Iftar in
honor of the Minister of Foreign Affairs which was attended
by a large number of high-ranking officials and friends of
Tunisia, among whom were the Deputy Secretary of State for
International Organizations, the Deputy Secretary of State
for the Middle East, Congressman Charles Taylor, chairman of
the Sub-Committee for Interior and Environmental Affairs,
and Mrs. Esther Coopersmith, a well known figure in
Washington DC."
HUDSON