Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TUNIS1230
2006-05-23 12:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tunis
Cable title:  

Special Media Reaction: DepSec Visit to Tunis

Tags:  PREL KPAO OIIP TS 
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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTU #1230/01 1431202
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 231202Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0752
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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