Special Media Reaction: DepSec Visit to Tunis

UNCLAS TUNIS 001230 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR D (MILLS) NEA (GRAY) NEA/MAG (LAWRENCE) NEA/PPD (WHITE, AGNEW) NEA/PI (CARPENTER, MULENEX) NEA/PA NEA/IPA I/GNEA CWG-PD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAO OIIP TS SUBJECT: Special Media Reaction: DepSec Visit to Tunis May 18 -19, 2006 Ref: A) 03 Tunis 2054 B) 05 Tunis 326 C) 06 Tunis 358 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Tunisian print and broadcast media positively and prominently covered the May 18 - 19 DepSec Zoellick visit to Tunisia. While both the government and privately-owned press highlighted the DepSec's positive statements on Tunisian modernity and moderation, the private press also included coverage of the DepSec's encouragement for greater political reform. All papers also focused on the possibility of a Tunisian role in the international efforts in Darfur. Comment: The Tunisian media coverage of this visit showed a slight, but important, evolution in Tunisian reporting on visits of American officials in that it provided a more balanced image of the visit including accurate coverage of the DepSec's statements on the need for reform in this country. End comment and summary. ¶2. (U) On May 20, all Tunisian newspapers covered the visit of Deputy Secretary Zoellick to Tunisia. Most papers published articles by the government-controlled Tunisian News Agency (TAP) reporting on the meetings with FM Abdallah, Minister of Development and International Cooperation Jouini, and President Ben Ali. The TAP articles concentrated more on what was said by the Tunisian interlocutors and included only a brief resume of the DepSec's message, noting his praise for Tunisia and the discussion of ways to strengthen US-Tunisia bilateral relations. 3.(U) Most papers also covered the May 19 DepSec press conference. Government-owned daily "La Presse" glossed over the DepSec's comments on the need for greater political reform in the country and instead focused on the issues of Tunisian bilateral cooperation, Darfur, and Iraq. Privately-owned dailies "As Sabah" and "Ash Shourouq" also reported on Iraq and Darfur, noting the possibility of Tunisian participation in international efforts in Sudan. Privately-owned "Le Temps" joined "As Sabah" and "Ash Shourouq" in their coverage of the DepSec's encouragement in the areas of freedom of assembly and expression in Tunisia, accurately reporting his observation that the educational and cultural levels of Tunisian society naturally lend themselves to a desire for greater freedom and knowledge. Privately-owned "Le Quotidien" focused its reporting on the press conference on the international issues of Libya, Darfur, and Iraq. 4.(U) On May 19, the government-controlled broadcast media also covered the DepSec's meeting with President Ben Ali and included coverage from the press conference on Darfur, Iraq, and positive bilateral relations. 5.(SBU) Comment: Given the GOT's track record on press coverage of American USG visits to Tunisia (reftels),the relatively accurate coverage of the DepSec's May 18 - 19 visit represents a slight, but significant, evolution in the local media scene. Whereas in the past TAP has either falsely attributed comments to such dignitaries as former SecState Powell or embellished American praise for Tunisian social and economic reforms into accolades for the human rights and political situation in the country, the TAP articles on the DepSec visit strategically focused on the GOT side of the bilateral discussions and refrained from commenting too widely on what was said by the American official. The accurate coverage on the DepSec's comments on reform presented in the privately- owned newspapers, and the particular mention of freedom of expression and assembly, also represent an evolution in Tunisian reporting. End comment. ¶6. (U) Sample headlines on the visit include: "La Presse" (government-owned French language daily): "Tunisia-US - President Ben Ali receives the Deputy Secretary of State - Deep discussions on questions SIPDIS related to peace and stability in the world. Mutual willingness of both sides to reinforce the already excellent bilateral ties and to pursue political discussions." "Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick, in a press conference, `Tunisia is a great nation that has made remarkable achievements.' `Tunisia played a positive role in the normalization of Tunisian- American relations.' `Tunisia distinguishes itself by its tolerance, modernity, and moderation.'" "Tunisian- American working meeting: Common will to diversify bilateral cooperation" "Cooperation: The progress realized by Tunisia will encourage American investors." "Le Renouveau" (ruling party French language daily): "President Ben Ali receives the Deputy Secretary: Reinforcement of relations of cooperation and coordination. Examination of regional and international issues of common interest in the Middle East and on the African continent." "Abdallah-Zoellick working session: Consolidation of secular and solid ties." "Robert Zoellick press conference: Homage to the role played by Tunisia in the normalization of US-Libyan relations." "Ash Shourouq" (private Arabic language daily): "Ben Ali discusses with Zoellick support for bilateral relations and regional and international issues." "American Deputy Secretary in a press conference: `I proposed Tunis SIPDIS participation in the international forces in Darfur.'" "We are in Iraq because the Iraqi people want us to be." "Le Temps" (private French language daily): "President Ben Ali receives the US Deputy Secretary of State: Promotion of ancient and excellent relations between Tunisia and the United States." "Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick in a press conference: `My visit to Tunisia was short, but interesting.' `There is an opportunity to increase the domain of economic development in the Maghreb.'" "As Sabah" (private Arabic language daily): "The American Deputy Secretary in a press conference: `There is an opportunity to widen the economic development field in the Maghreb.'""We noticed positive signals of Tunis readiness to help in Darfur""We don't want to remain in Iraq longer than necessary." "Le Quotidien" (private French language daily): "Tunisia- US: Common will to promote bilateral cooperation." "American Deputy Secretary of State: `My country has a profound respect for Tunisia.'" "Al-Horriya" (ruling party Arabic language daily): "The Head of the State receives the American Deputy Secretary." "Discussion of the traditional and excellent SIPDIS relations and horizons to increase their development." "The American Deputy Secretary when received by Mr. Abdelwahab Abdallah: `Strengthening of exchange in officials visits between the two countries and the reinforcement of bilateral collaboration and cooperation.' `The U.S. is impressed by the Tunisian development approach.'" "In a press conference: "Praising the Tunisian positive role in American-Libyan normalization" "As-Sahafa" (government-owned Arabic language daily): "President Ben Ali receives the American Deputy Secretary." "Promoting the traditional and excellent SIPDIS relations between the two countries and horizons to increase the development of these ties." "Meeting between the Tunisian Foreign Minister and the American Deputy Secretary: `The economic and political reforms that Tunis SIPDIS has achieved protect it from forms of extremism.'" "The American Deputy Secretary in a press conference: `Praise for the positive Tunisian role in the normalization of the American-Libyan relations." HUDSON