AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL WITH MINISTER OF

S E C R E T TUNIS 001835 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG - HARRIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL TS SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL WITH MINISTER OF INTERIOR Classified By: Ambassador William Hudson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) On 17 July 2006, Ambassador met with the Tunisian Minister of Interior Bel Haj Kacem in his office for a 30 minute farewell call. The meeting was also attended by the MOI's Deputy to the Special Assistant on International Relations and COS and was cordial in nature. ¶2. (S) Ambassador relayed his appreciation for the cooperation the U.S. Embassy has had with the Ministry, noting that the cooperation had improved during his three year tenure. He specifically relayed his thanks for the security provided to American citizens, and the Embassy, as well as the personal protection afforded him via the Ministry's Police and Protections Units. ¶3. (S) In terms of the National Guard, Ambassador raised the issue of the movement of the former National Guard Commander Bennour to the National Security Directorate and the Governor of Sousse's appointment as the new Commandant. (Note: the Ambassador met the new Commandant at a Joint Exercise graduation ceremony in June.) The Minister confirmed that Ben Nour was new to the position as head of National Security and confirmed that he would be meeting with COS. The Ambassador raised the issue of COS meeting with the head of the National Guard as heads of her organization had done in the past. The Minister confirmed that this was not the first time this issue had been raised and responded that he did not see any problem with the contact. He said that it was not a problem, that the National Guard was like the Police and that contact is centralized in the Ministry of Interior. In terms of contact with the U.S. Military, the Ambassador commented on the good cooperation between the Defense Attache's Office and the Special Forces. HUDSON