Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TUNIS2287
2006-09-05 11:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tunis
how-toVZCZCXRO1072 PP RUEHLMC DE RUEHTU #2287 2481125 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 051125Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS TO RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1761
UNCLAS TUNIS 002287
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG (MHARRIS),NEA/PI (SFRANCESKI),LCONNELL
TREASURY FOR RBAYLAY
USAID FOR PDELP
USTR FOR EBRYAN
NSC ADEMOPOULOS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN EAID KMCA TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIA NOT INTERESTED IN MCA
REF: MCC 450
UNCLAS TUNIS 002287
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG (MHARRIS),NEA/PI (SFRANCESKI),LCONNELL
TREASURY FOR RBAYLAY
USAID FOR PDELP
USTR FOR EBRYAN
NSC ADEMOPOULOS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN EAID KMCA TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIA NOT INTERESTED IN MCA
REF: MCC 450
1. (SBU) In reponse to Embassy reminders for financial data
for Millennium Challenge Account selection, the Government of
Tunisia has declined to submit the required information,
thereby withdrawing Tunisia from consideration for MCA
funding. In a meeting with EconOff, MFA Deputy Director for
the Americas, Moez Sinaoui, asked whether the selection
criteria for Millennium Challenge Account selection would be
the same as last year, when Tunisia fared poorly on democracy
and governance indicators and was not selected. After
receiving an affirmative response, Sinaoui stated that
Tunisia would not be submitting the required financial data.
He went on to add that the U.S. wants Tunisia to reform areas
that Tunisia does not believe require reform, musing "Maybe
you are wrong, or maybe we are wrong."
2. (SBU) Comment: The GOT's decision to take itself out of
the running for MCA funding is not surprising. Little has
changed in Tunisia's governance record in the past year to
merit an improvement in MCA selection indicators and as
Sinaoui frankly stated, the GOT sees no need for reform in
these areas. The GOT has deduced that it has preempted the
embarrassment of receiving a second set of poor scores on
democracy, followed by what would likely be MCA
ineligibility. End Comment.
BALLARD
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG (MHARRIS),NEA/PI (SFRANCESKI),LCONNELL
TREASURY FOR RBAYLAY
USAID FOR PDELP
USTR FOR EBRYAN
NSC ADEMOPOULOS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN EAID KMCA TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIA NOT INTERESTED IN MCA
REF: MCC 450
1. (SBU) In reponse to Embassy reminders for financial data
for Millennium Challenge Account selection, the Government of
Tunisia has declined to submit the required information,
thereby withdrawing Tunisia from consideration for MCA
funding. In a meeting with EconOff, MFA Deputy Director for
the Americas, Moez Sinaoui, asked whether the selection
criteria for Millennium Challenge Account selection would be
the same as last year, when Tunisia fared poorly on democracy
and governance indicators and was not selected. After
receiving an affirmative response, Sinaoui stated that
Tunisia would not be submitting the required financial data.
He went on to add that the U.S. wants Tunisia to reform areas
that Tunisia does not believe require reform, musing "Maybe
you are wrong, or maybe we are wrong."
2. (SBU) Comment: The GOT's decision to take itself out of
the running for MCA funding is not surprising. Little has
changed in Tunisia's governance record in the past year to
merit an improvement in MCA selection indicators and as
Sinaoui frankly stated, the GOT sees no need for reform in
these areas. The GOT has deduced that it has preempted the
embarrassment of receiving a second set of poor scores on
democracy, followed by what would likely be MCA
ineligibility. End Comment.
BALLARD