TUNISIAN EMBASSY IN QATAR CLOSED TO PROTEST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TUNIS 002639

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG - HARRIS, NEA/PPD - AFERNANDEZ, FFINVER,
NEA/ARP
LONDON FOR MOC - JAERELI
DUBAI FOR REGIONAL PD HUB - MPELLETIER
DOHA FOR AMB, PAO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2016
TAGS: PGOV KPAO KDEM QA TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIAN EMBASSY IN QATAR CLOSED TO PROTEST
AL-JAZEERA

REF: TUNIS 2565 (NOTAL)

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES a.i. DAVID BALLARD FOR REASONS 1.4 (b)
AND (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY. On October 25, the Tunisian MFA announced the
closure of Tunisia's embassy in Qatar, citing al-Jazeera's
lack of objectivity. The announcement followed numerous
international media reports that Tunisia had withdrawn its
ambassador in protest over al-Jazeera coverage of Tunisian
domestic issues, particularly the GOT's recent crackdown on
wearing the veil. The decision is not surprising given the
lack of press freedom in Tunisia and strong GOT sensitivities
to criticism. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Following several pan-Arab media reports that Tunisia
had withdrawn its ambassador from Doha, the MFA released an
official statement on October 25 (complete text para 5)
announcing "the end of its diplomatic representation to Qatar
and the closing of the Tunisian embassy in Doha". (NOTE:
While no official date was given, the pan-Arab daily al-Quds
al-Arabi reported the decision was taken on October 16. END
NOTE.) In its official statement, the MFA cited al-Jazeera's
"hostile campaign meant to harm Tunisia...a country which
respects and practices freedom of opinion and of speech."
During an October 26 parliamentary session, Foreign Minister
Abdelwaheb Abdallah, explained "We have great patience and
have overcome criticism, defamation, lying and slander," but
that al-Jazeera's recent "incitement of civil strife is
unacceptable." Following his comments, some Deputies voiced
their support for the GOT's decision to close the embassy.


3. (C) Al-Jazeera, which enjoys a large Tunisian audience,
regularly covers Tunisian political news, including political
activism, protests and arrests. Most recently, the channel
aired a program on the GOT campaign against the hijab
(reftel). The GOT has long disliked al-Jazeera's coverage of
Tunisia and has refused to renew the professional
identification card of the station's Tunisian correspondent,
Lotfi Hajji. Hajji's ability to work locally as a journalist
is thus severely limited, although he does produce written
articles for al-Jazeera's website.


4. (C) Hajji told PolOff that the recent appearance of
Tunisian political activist and leader of the unregistered
Congress for the Republic party Moncef Marzouki on al-Jazeera
was "the straw that broke the camel's back." (NOTE:
According to press reports and embassy contacts, Tunisian
authorities have convoked Marzouki, who returned to Tunisia
on October 21 from a self-imposed exile in Paris, on charges
of domestic incitement related to his al-Jazeera appearance.
END NOTE.) Hajji opined that the GOT only chose to publicize
its actions because the international press coverage was
widespread.


5. (C) The Qatari DCM, Mubarak Nasser al-Khalifa, in Tunis
confirmed to the Charg that the Tunisian Ambassador to
Qatar, Mohammed Saad, departed around October 15. Al-Khalifa
stressed that the Qatari mission to Tunisia continues to
operate and all staff, including the ambassador, are present.


6. (C) While not the first country to use diplomatic
maneuvering to protest al-Jazeera coverage, Tunisia's action
is characteristic of its desire to control every aspect of
news about the regime. (NOTE: Reporters Without Borders
recently ranked Tunisia 148 of 168 in its 2006 World Press
Freedom Index. END NOTE.) For months, Tunisian newspapers
have published editorials condemning al-Jazeera and the
Qatari government. The MFA announcement - which was covered
by all local newspapers - was predictably accompanied by
similar editorials supporting the GOT move and denouncing
al-Jazeera. In the Arabic language as-Sabah, an unidentified
author criticized al-Jazeera's unwillingness "to shed light
on (Qatari) domestic issues, including human rights,
stripping nationals of their citizenship, and foreign
military bases," as well as the upcoming visit to Qatar of
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.


7. (C) COMMENT: While the GOT's policies usually seek the
middle ground, in this case it allowed its aversion to
criticism trump its "get along" policy. Despite its claims
that freedom of expression is "a fundamental choice" of the

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Tunisian regime, the end of diplomatic relations betrays the
GOT belief that governments should control media. Given the
relatively insignificant Tunisian-Qatari bilateral
relationship, it is unlikely Tunisian diplomats will be
returning to Doha in the near future. END COMMENT.


8. (U) Full Text of MFA Statement (Tunisian Press Agency
translation):
Begin Text:
Qatari Al-Jazeera television channel has turned its back on
truth and objectivity every time it has focused on news in
Tunisia, showing in this way despise for the elementary rules
of ethics and leading a hostile campaign meant to harm
Tunisia.
In the face of a behavior of this kind, Tunisia, customarily,
has shown restraint and has seen sense in order to preserve
the fraternity and co-operation relations between the two
countries and to safeguard the close ties binding the two
sisterly countries' leaders and peoples.
Tunisia, a country which respects and practices freedom of
opinion and of speech and appreciates to its true worth
honest information, has espoused these noble values and made
of them a fundamental choice of its political orientations.
For Tunisia, freedom of opinion and of speech is also a
solemn pledge both in actions and words. Nonetheless, by its
deliberately malevolent stands towards Tunisia, Al-Jazeera
television channel has gone beyond all limits and
transgressed the moral rules on which journalistic practice
is based.
Furthermore, such stands are in total contradiction with the
principle of freedom of expression, as they incite to
trouble-making and sedition, which is a violation of
international laws and practices and the values on which
relations between states are grounded.
In the face of such a dangerous turn of events, Tunisia
decided to put an end to its diplomatic representation in
Qatar and to close its embassy in Doha, in spite of the
esteem and respect it vows to this sisterly country.
End Text.
BALLARD