PRODI VISIT REINFORCES ITALY-TUNISIA RELATIONSHIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 002693

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG - HARRIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM TS
SUBJECT: PRODI VISIT REINFORCES ITALY-TUNISIA RELATIONSHIP


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


1. (C) SUMMARY. Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi visited
Tunis on October 30 for meetings with Tunisian President Zine
el Abidine Ben Ali. According to Italian embassy contacts,
Prodi's visit is part of a regional tour that includes Rabat
and Algiers. While focusing on bilateral cooperation, Prodi
also reportedly discussed human rights with Ben Ali. Prodi
also commented on the withdrawal of Italian troops from Iraq.
END SUMMARY.


2. (C/NF) BILATERAL ISSUES: According to official GOT press
announcements, during his meeting with Prodi, Ben Ali voiced
his satisfaction with the pace of bilateral cooperation,
including trade, investment and tourism. Ben Ali also
stressed the need to intensify joint projects and increase
economic partnership. In his press conference, Prodi said he
discussed human rights with Ben Ali. Prodi noted that, after
Europe, the Mediterranean was the most important region in
Italian foreign policy. Michele Cecchi, First Secretary at
the Italian Embassy in Tunis, highlighted to PolOff that Rome
is the closest capital to Tunis and said that the issue of
illegal migration was a bilateral issue regularly discussed.
(NOTE: There is a limited Italian work visa program for
Tunisians to combat illegal migrants. END NOTE.)


3. (C) REGIONAL ISSUES: While Cecchi told PolOff the visit
was largely focused on bilateral issues, Prodi told the
Tunisian press that he considered his visit tantamount to
Italy's "regaining esteem in the Arab world". Prodi said his
position regarding the withdrawal of Italian troops from Iraq
remained the same and that the withdrawal would take until
the end of this year. According to press reports, Prodi
added that he is not "tied to the American agenda".


4. (C) CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC TIES: During his visit, Prodi
also inaugurated a new Italian cultural center in Tunis and
discussed educational cooperation with Ben Ali. Prodi told
the local press that over 2500 Italian students study at six
Tunisian universities and 3000 Italians study at local
institutes. Prodi also discussed economic cooperation with
Ben Ali, including support for small and medium enterprises
and investment in an electricity project.


5. (C) COMMENT. While it is positive that Prodi raised human
rights with Ben Ali, given Italy's proximity and the illegal
immigration problem, the visit largely focused on economic
cooperation and integration. It is unlikely that Italy will
become a strong supporter of USG efforts to encourage freedom
of expression and assembly in Tunisia. END COMMENT.
BALLARD