Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TUNIS2807
2005-12-27 15:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tunis
Cable title:
TUNISIA: UPDATE FROM MINISTER OF DEFENSE
how-toP 271531Z DEC 05 FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9409 INFO AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 002807
STATE FOR NEA/MAG (WLAWRENCE); NEA/FO (CUTRONA)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2015
TAGS: PGOV MARR TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIA: UPDATE FROM MINISTER OF DEFENSE
Classified By: Ambassador William J. Hudson, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 002807
STATE FOR NEA/MAG (WLAWRENCE); NEA/FO (CUTRONA)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2015
TAGS: PGOV MARR TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIA: UPDATE FROM MINISTER OF DEFENSE
Classified By: Ambassador William J. Hudson, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) The Ambassador December 27 reviewed a number of
bilateral defense-related issues with Tunisian Minister of
Defense Kamel Morjane, and briefed him on the November EUCOM
Mediterranean Ambassador's conference in Stuttgart. The
Ambassador emphasized the importance of linking Tunisian
funding requests to its counterterrorism operations. Morjane
stressed several times that the GOT valued its defense
relationship with the U.S., despite the strong ties with the
European/Med "5 plus 5" group, which had just gathered in
Algiers.
REGIONAL SECURITY SITUATION/COOPERATION: Morjane was sober
about the regional security threat; Tunisia was "aware that
anything could happen," especially after the recent bombings
in Amman, and was taking all measures to prevent and respond
to attacks. He said that authorities were particularly
anxious at this time of year because of the number of large
gatherings taking place. Morjane said he regarded
multinational cooperation as one key part of the
counterterrorism effort; to the best of its ability, Tunisia
participated in Mediterranean Dialogue meetings and intended
to stay part of that process. The bilateral relationship
remained very important as well. The Minister did add that
Tunisia's defense forces received a number of requests for
participation in various programs and events, making it
difficult to respond to all. This should not be read as lack
of interest on Tunisia's part, however. In fact, Morjane
said he was creating a special sub-group at the Ministry to
deal with NATO-related issues. Later in the conversation,
Morjane brought up the increasing importance of security
threats in the pan-Sahel region, and said that was all the
more reason Tunisia needed to bolster its border surveillance
systems.
SOFA: Morjane was positive on the proposed Status of Forces
Agreement (SOFA),and indicated that he was meeting in the
next few days with relevant Ministry officials to coordinate
Tunisia's response to new language from the U.S. side. The
Ambassador added that he planned a meeting with the Director
of the Americas and Asia department at the MFA on the subject
of the SOFA sometime in January.
FMF/IMET: The Ambassador told Morjane that U.S. operations
in Iraq and Afghanistan had severely stretched the foreign
military assistance budget, but that there was a willingness
in Washington to retain Tunisia's funding at as high a level
as possible given those constraints. Morjane accepted the
point, but said that Tunisia "counts very much on you," given
the GOT's relatively low defense budget allocations. The
Ambassador also briefed Morjane on the planned USD 6.8
million in drawdown authority for Tunisia, and again urged
that ensuing requests be directly linked to improving CT
capabilities. Morjane seemed well-informed on the topic and
said a list of requested items would be forwarded very soon.
IRAQ TRAINING/ASSISTANCE: The Ambassador said that the
recent elections in Iraq made it all the more important to
improve security there. He asked Morjane if Tunisia had
given any thought to contributing in security or police force
training in Iraq, or elsewhere for Iraqi officers. Morjane
was evasive, and said that in his four months on the job
(Morjane returned recently from Geneva) he had not received
any requests for assistance from Iraq. He did promise to give
the idea some consideration, but was not forthcoming.
DE-MINING ASSISTANCE: Morjane thanked the Ambassador for
scheduled U.S. assistance in assessing the presence of
dangerous land mines in Tunisia (including in the sea.) He
said that they received an average of two reports per day of
unexploded WWII ordinance from throughout Tunisia, or about
700-800 per year.
2. (C) Comment: Morjane's sober approach to the security
situation in the Mediterranean reflects a better
understanding than his immediate predecessor (M'henni) of the
complexities of the current world environment and the
benefits of developing cooperative ties internationally. This
clearly arises from his time outside Tunisia, including in
Geneva as deputy head of UNHCR, and we are optimistic that he
may look more favorably on joint efforts with us and others
on CT matters.
HUDSON
STATE FOR NEA/MAG (WLAWRENCE); NEA/FO (CUTRONA)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2015
TAGS: PGOV MARR TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIA: UPDATE FROM MINISTER OF DEFENSE
Classified By: Ambassador William J. Hudson, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) The Ambassador December 27 reviewed a number of
bilateral defense-related issues with Tunisian Minister of
Defense Kamel Morjane, and briefed him on the November EUCOM
Mediterranean Ambassador's conference in Stuttgart. The
Ambassador emphasized the importance of linking Tunisian
funding requests to its counterterrorism operations. Morjane
stressed several times that the GOT valued its defense
relationship with the U.S., despite the strong ties with the
European/Med "5 plus 5" group, which had just gathered in
Algiers.
REGIONAL SECURITY SITUATION/COOPERATION: Morjane was sober
about the regional security threat; Tunisia was "aware that
anything could happen," especially after the recent bombings
in Amman, and was taking all measures to prevent and respond
to attacks. He said that authorities were particularly
anxious at this time of year because of the number of large
gatherings taking place. Morjane said he regarded
multinational cooperation as one key part of the
counterterrorism effort; to the best of its ability, Tunisia
participated in Mediterranean Dialogue meetings and intended
to stay part of that process. The bilateral relationship
remained very important as well. The Minister did add that
Tunisia's defense forces received a number of requests for
participation in various programs and events, making it
difficult to respond to all. This should not be read as lack
of interest on Tunisia's part, however. In fact, Morjane
said he was creating a special sub-group at the Ministry to
deal with NATO-related issues. Later in the conversation,
Morjane brought up the increasing importance of security
threats in the pan-Sahel region, and said that was all the
more reason Tunisia needed to bolster its border surveillance
systems.
SOFA: Morjane was positive on the proposed Status of Forces
Agreement (SOFA),and indicated that he was meeting in the
next few days with relevant Ministry officials to coordinate
Tunisia's response to new language from the U.S. side. The
Ambassador added that he planned a meeting with the Director
of the Americas and Asia department at the MFA on the subject
of the SOFA sometime in January.
FMF/IMET: The Ambassador told Morjane that U.S. operations
in Iraq and Afghanistan had severely stretched the foreign
military assistance budget, but that there was a willingness
in Washington to retain Tunisia's funding at as high a level
as possible given those constraints. Morjane accepted the
point, but said that Tunisia "counts very much on you," given
the GOT's relatively low defense budget allocations. The
Ambassador also briefed Morjane on the planned USD 6.8
million in drawdown authority for Tunisia, and again urged
that ensuing requests be directly linked to improving CT
capabilities. Morjane seemed well-informed on the topic and
said a list of requested items would be forwarded very soon.
IRAQ TRAINING/ASSISTANCE: The Ambassador said that the
recent elections in Iraq made it all the more important to
improve security there. He asked Morjane if Tunisia had
given any thought to contributing in security or police force
training in Iraq, or elsewhere for Iraqi officers. Morjane
was evasive, and said that in his four months on the job
(Morjane returned recently from Geneva) he had not received
any requests for assistance from Iraq. He did promise to give
the idea some consideration, but was not forthcoming.
DE-MINING ASSISTANCE: Morjane thanked the Ambassador for
scheduled U.S. assistance in assessing the presence of
dangerous land mines in Tunisia (including in the sea.) He
said that they received an average of two reports per day of
unexploded WWII ordinance from throughout Tunisia, or about
700-800 per year.
2. (C) Comment: Morjane's sober approach to the security
situation in the Mediterranean reflects a better
understanding than his immediate predecessor (M'henni) of the
complexities of the current world environment and the
benefits of developing cooperative ties internationally. This
clearly arises from his time outside Tunisia, including in
Geneva as deputy head of UNHCR, and we are optimistic that he
may look more favorably on joint efforts with us and others
on CT matters.
HUDSON