EMBASSY TUNIS ENGAGES TUNISIAN JOURNALISTS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 001238 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/FO (GRAY),NEA/MAG (GERMAINE,LAWRENCE), NEA/PPD (FERNANDEZ, SMITH, AGNEW),NEA/PI (MULENEX, KIRBY), NEA/PA, NEA/IPA, I/GNA, DRL, CWG-PD PARIS FOR ZEYA, ARS QUEEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2016 TAGS: PREL KDEM KPAO EAID PHUM KMPI TS SUBJECT: EMBASSY TUNIS ENGAGES TUNISIAN JOURNALISTS ON WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY REF: 2005 TUNIS 1091 Classified By: Ambassador William J. Hudson; reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) 1.(SBU) Summary: Embassy Tunis reached out to Tunisian journalists on World Press Freedom Day through a May 4 DVC with NEA/PA Director Alberto Fernandez and through the distribution of French translations of the book "The Elements of Journalism" to over 75 local media professionals. The May 4 DVC received positive and accurate press coverage and heartened Tunisian activists promoting freedom of expression in the country. Many Tunisian journalists additionally expressed heartfelt thanks for the book and for its accompanying letter from the Ambassador, which reiterated the USG's respect and support for a responsible and free press in the country. These two successful activities replaced a programmed US Embassy-sponsored conference on "Media Ethics and Press Freedom" canceled when our local partner withdrew. End Summary. Opportunity to Advance MPP Goals -------------- 2.(SBU) The annual international observance of World Press Freedom Day on May 3 is an important opportunity for Embassy Tunis to publicly reach out to Tunisian media professionals to advance both our goals of promoting democracy and increasing mutual understanding of American values. In 2004, the Embassy co-sponsored a conference with the Arab Institute of Human Rights (AIHR) on the topic of "Media Ethics." Attended by 75 Tunisian journalists, civil society activists, and GOT officials, this conference allowed participants to express their view on our Iraq policy and then to discuss the importance of unbiased media coverage of international relations. In 2005, the Embassy co-sponsored a conference with American NGO Internews on "On-Line Journalism." (reftel) This conference, attended by 70 Tunisian journalists, resulted in a heated public debate on the Tunisian media scene and the intersection of media ethics and responsibilities for both the print and on-line media. 3.(C) This year, the Embassy attempted to carry on this tradition with a conference cosponsored by the AIHR on "Media Ethics and Press Freedom." Three prominent Tunisian journalists, including Mohamed Krichene of "Al-Jazeera" and Abdelatif Fourati, a well-known and highly respected Tunisian journalist no longer permitted to work by the GOT, agreed to appear as panelists. The Embassy also were seeking the participation of both an American expert and a European expert (financed by the European Union) to participate in the conference. While the AIHR initially was very enthusiastic about participating in such an endeavor, we were surprised with a phone call on April 20 informing us that the AIHR would not be able to participate due to our "policies in Iraq and Palestine." Given the fact that AIHR had co-sponsored an event with the US Embassy in the middle of the Iraq War, Embassy staff asked for a clearer explanation of the decision. A source close to AIHR President Taieb Baccouche indicated that Baccouche had come under pressure from Mokhtar Trifi, the head of the Tunisian League of Human Rights (LTDH) to not work with the USG. (Note: The LTDH has long boycotted USG events in protest of our policies in Iraq and Palestine. End note.) When asked by the Ambassador about this allegation, Trifi denied any such pressure. Other Tunisian activists speculated that it was more likely that Baccouche came under pressure from the GOT. The Embassy then examined the possibility of holding the conference without local partnership. Krichene and Fourati, however, recommended against such an idea, noting that the scene was already set for the conference to be more about US policy in the region than about the intended theme of freedom of expression. Other Ways to Engage -------------- 4.(SBU) As an alternative to the planned conference, Embassy Tunis instead participated in a May 4 DVC with NEA/PD Alberto Fernandez and Washington-based Arab reporter Salameh Nemett as well as with Embassy Rabat and the Consulate in Casablanca. Four prominent Tunisian journalists attended the DVC, including Lotfi Hajji, the president of the unrecognized Tunisian Journalists Union (SJT),and Rachid Khachana, the editor of opposition paper "Al Mawqif." The result was a passionate and honest exchange of ideas on press freedom in the region and in the United States. Fernandez highlighted US support for democracy and human rights in the region and successfully corrected misconceptions of USG control over the American media; these facts were highlighted in articles that positively and accurately reported on the exchange in two Tunisian daily newspapers, reaching over 40,000 Tunisian readers. Lotfi Hajji was particularly thankful for Fernandez' clear statement of support for the work of the SJT and acknowledged the important of USG support for a free press in Tunisia. 5.(U) In order to realize the goal of public outreach to a large number of Tunisian journalists, the Ambassador sent the French translation of the book by American journalists Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, "The Elements of Journalism" to 75 Tunisian media professionals. In his cover letter, the Ambassador expressed admiration for the important work of journalists and reiterated American support for a free and responsible press in Tunisia and around the world. This initiative was warmly received by the journalists, many of whom expressed heartfelt thanks and admitted being touched by the Ambassador's letter and initiative. One journalist additionally noted that the book and letter sent the important message that a free press was high on the list of US priorities in Tunisia. HUDSON