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