THE DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MAY 18 MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 001253 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG (WLAWRENCE),D (JOST),DRL, NEA/PI E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2016 TAGS: PREL KDEM PGOV ECON TS SUBJECT: THE DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MAY 18 MEETING WITH TUNISIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ABDELWAHEB ABDALLAH Classified By: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM HUDSON FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d) ¶1. (U) May 18, 2006; 4:30 P.M.; TUNIS, TUNISIA. ¶2. (U) Participants: U.S. -------------- The Deputy Secretary Ambassador William Hudson Christine Davies, D Special Assistant Kelly Dillon, D Personal Assistant Aaron Jost, D Special Assistant Michael Matera, D Executive Assistant Richard Mills, D Senior Advisor Anna Wagner, D Staff Assistant Embassy Pol/Econ Deputy Susannah Cooper Stephanie Syptak, Embassy Information Officer TUNISIA -------------- Foreign Minister Abdelwaheb Abdallah Hatem Atallah, MFA Chief of Staff Fadhel Ayari, MFA Americas Director Moez Sinaoui, MFA Americas Deputy Director Mehdi Ferchichi, MFA Chief of Americas Division ¶3. (C) SUMMARY. During his May 18-19 visit to Tunisia, Deputy Secretary Zoellick met on May 18 with Tunisian Foreign Minister Abdelwaheb Abdallah to discuss domestic political reform and regional issues. The Deputy Secretary said that the socio-economic progress Tunisia has achieved naturally leads to increased public interest in political participation and said he hoped the U.S. and Tunisia could have further dialogue on this topic. FM Abdallah said that Tunisia has made satisfactory progress and denounced the small minority of civil society that disseminates false information to foreigners. He stressed the danger of Islamist entities who claim to support democracy and argued that Tunisia's moderate path has been successful. Abdallah also presented Tunisian views on Maghreb cooperation, Iraq, the Middle East Peace Process and Sudan but did not offer any particular assistance. END SUMMARY. BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP -------------- ¶4. (C) FM Abdallah began by welcoming the Deputy Secretary and his delegation, noting that Tunisia is honored to say it is a friend of America. Tunisia is a country of moderation in everything, said Abdallah, and this step-by-step approach "has only benefited us." Abdallah said that as friends, Tunisia values the exchanges such visits offer, but that we also have an obligation to "tell the truth" about the situation in Tunisia. The Deputy Secretary said that he hoped to listen and learn during his visit, as well as to discuss bilateral and regional issues. SOCIAL/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT -------------- ¶5. (C) Abdallah noted that Tunisia is a development success, despite its moderate natural resources, as it values its human resources. Abdallah said fifty-five percent of higher education students are women and all school age children are enrolled - "remarkable for an Arab and Muslim country." Tunisia's focus on education, poverty eradication and economic growth has contained the Islamist menace of the late 1980s in Tunisia, which was one of the first Arab countries to be confronted with Islamist extremism, Abdallah added. The Deputy Secretary noted Tunisia's strategy of using social and economic development to preclude extremism, saying such a period of economic and social success is the best time to broaden political participation. ISLAMIST THREAT -------------- ¶6. (C) Abdallah stressed that he does not agree with what he believed were U.S. views on Islamist political participation, which does not correspond fully with reality in Tunisia. Islamists, said Abdallah, are fundamentally anti-democratic, especially regarding women. These individuals are not "overnight democrats," but in fact they want a theocratic regime. The Deputy Secretary said that we know radical Islamists, but that in any society there are differing views on policies. If lawyers, journalists and others have not way to effectively participate in civil society dialogue, they may turn to a dangerous Islamist path. POLITICAL REFORM -------------- ¶7. (C) Abdallah said that, since assuming power in 1987, President Ben Ali has overseen a number of political reforms: eliminating the one party system, established elections at all political levels, laid the platform for a democratic country, including establishing rule of law that includes respect for freedom of association, expression and opinion. "While we have not achieved perfection," Abdallah said Tunisia had made satisfactory progress. "Foreigners'" perception of a lack of political freedom was due to a lack of information. In addition, some individuals "who represent a small fraction of civil society with radical and extreme views" seek to distort Tunisia's image and disseminate false information about Tunisia to foreign diplomats and journalists, according to Abdallah. ¶8. (C) The Deputy Secretary noted that, in order to fully develop our bilateral relationship, the U.S. would like greater dialogue on the evolution of the Tunisian political process, particularly citizen participation. He said he hoped Tunisia and the U.S. could restart a high-level dialogue about political participation, focusing on the role of NGOs and the registration of new NGOs, expanding media participation opportunities, and broadening political party participation. The Deputy Secretary noted that Tunisia's progress in economic and social reform and education would prompt additional popular interest in greater participation and freedoms. The Deputy Secretary specifically noted there may be a positive role for IRI or NDI to play in Tunisia, as they are not destabilizing organizations. Abdallah said that there are over 10,000 associations with a "quite satisfactory" public, social and political life. Abdallah added that the GOT "has no role" in the high-profile case of the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH). The Deputy Secretary also noted USG concern regarding the case of lawyer SIPDIS Mohammed Abbou. Abdallah dismissed this topic, responding, "There is no need to waste your time (discussing this case) when you could read the file." REGIONAL ISSUES -------------- ¶9. (C) On the Maghreb, the Deputy Secretary said that there is now an opportunity for greater regional cohesion, following the re-establishment of U.S. relations with Libya and new momentum in Algeria. Abdallah said Tunisia acts as a moderator in the Maghreb, which faces a number of difficulties today although everyone is supportive of pan-Maghreb relations. The Western Sahara issue is still difficult, but that Tunisia seeks to keep the related entities moving forward at the economic and political level, such as during the upcoming June 14-15 Foreign Ministers' meeting in Tripoli. ¶10. (C) Turning to Iraq, the Foreign Minister said that Tunisia is watching the evolution of the situation and the progress in developing national institutions, which will stabilize the country, facilitating reconstruction, the emergence of the state and rule of law. Progress may not be fast enough, said Abdallah, but "things are on the move." ¶11. (C) Abdallah said that Tunisia regretted the result of the Palestinian elections, but they reflected the will of the Palestinian people. We should be patient, as the present Hamas government has to evolve - and will. Hamas must reject violence, recognize Israel and recognize those existing agreements, such as Oslo, that brought them to power. Meanwhile, we should not abandon the Palestinian people, said Abdallah, as they will be tempted by extremism, which feeds on despair. "I don't know how to channel aid," said Abdallah, however, we must support Abbas. Abdallah added that he hopes Israelis understand the difficulty and complexity of the situation, and "don't take brutal, unilateral decisions." Noting that he had met Israeli PM Olmert at the Barcelona Summit, Abdallah said he found him intelligent and trust-worthy. ¶12. (C) The Deputy Secretary noted his participation in the recent Abuja talks on Darfur, and asked Tunisia, as an Arab League and African Union member, to encourage the Sudanese Government to address the root problems. He also asked if Tunisia might be a participant in a future U.N. peacekeeping operation in Darfur. Abdallah said that Tunisia "is not looking to get into the heart of the problem," but is engaged through the Arab League. While noting that African Union forces do not have the material or human means to meet the needs in Darfur, Abdallah did not comment on possible Tunisian participation in a future U.N. peacekeeping operation. ¶13. (U) The Deputy Secretary's party has cleared this cable. HUDSON