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.
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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
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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
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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
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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