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