Special Media Reaction: SecDef Visit to Tunis

UNCLAS TUNIS 000358

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA (GRAY) NEA/RA (FOX) NEA/MAG (LAWRENCE)
NEA/PPD (WHITE, AGNEW) NEA/PA NEA/IPA I/GNEA CWG-PD
DOD FOR OSD - AXELROD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO OIIP TS
SUBJECT: Special Media Reaction: SecDef Visit to Tunis
February 10 - 11, 2006



1. (SBU) Summary. Tunisian broadcast and print media
prominently covered the February 10 - 11 visit of
Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld to Tunis. The local

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reporting on the visit emphasized the positive strategic
alliance between the U.S. and Tunisia as well as the
Secretary's laudatory remarks on Tunisia's "voice of

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moderation and tolerance in the region." While the
broadcast media did not reflect either the Secretary's
reference to terrorist attacks in Djerba or his comment
that "political and economic freedom go hand in hand,"
the written press coverage accurately reported on these
statements. Comment. The willingness of the GOT to allow
accurate print press coverage of comments by U.S.
officials on the need for political reform as well as to
permit public reminders of the April 2002 terrorist
attack in Djerba represent a positive evolution in the
Tunisian media scene. End summary and comment.


2. (U) On February 11, Tunisian television and radio news
(both government-owned) led with stories about the visit
of SecDef to Tunisia. The television dedicated 5 minutes
at the top of their 2000 news hour to the visit featuring
footage of the meeting with President Ben Ali, the press
point at the MOD, and the meeting at the MFA. The
coverage focused on the discussion with President Ben
Ali, highlighting that the two officials talked about
ways to enforce the Tunisian-American relationship.
Broadcast media also highlighted President Ben Ali's
discussion of developments in Iraq and the Middle East,
focusing on the Palestinian issue and the importance of
continuing financial aid to the Palestinian people as
well as on the President's call for dialogue and
moderation in order to achieve peace and stability in the
region. The Tunisian television coverage of the
Secretary of Defense's comments at the MOD was limited to

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the following portion of his statement: "Tunisia has long
been an important voice of moderation and tolerance in
this region and played a key role in confronting
extremists not just within this country, but in the area
as well. We appreciate those important contributions.
The United States lauds Tunisia's economic and social
progress." The broadcast media did not cover either the
Secretary's reference to the terrorist attacks in Tunisia

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or his statement that "political and economic freedom go
hand-in-hand."

3.(U) All of the February 12 Tunisian daily newspapers
placed two articles prepared by the government news
agency (TAP),the first on the meeting with President Ben
Ali and the second a summary of the Secretary's statement
at the MOD. Most papers headlined SecDef's statement
that "Tunisia has long been an important voice of
moderation and tolerance in this region." (Sample
headlines in para 6.) In the latter article, TAP
accurately reported on the entirety of the Secretary's
comments, including the terrorist attacks in Tunisia and
the statement that "political and economic freedom go
hand-in-hand." Two newspapers also placed articles on the
Secretary's meeting with the MFA, highlighting the

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friendly bilateral relations between our two countries.

4.(U) The lead editorial in the government-owned French
language daily "La Presse" reminded the reader of the
high-level exchange of visitors between the US and
Tunisia over the past three years and noted that this
bilateral relationships was based "on principles of
mutual respect and willingness to act in the service of
shared interests." The editorial went on to praise
President Ben Ali and to affirm that Tunisia is the model
"of moderation and tolerance." The lead editorial in
the ruling party French language daily "Le Renouveau"
echoed these same themes.


5. (SBU) Comment. While the GOT publicly spun the visit
as further proof of strong American support for President
Ben Ali and the current policies of the Tunisian
government, it was noteworthy that it also allowed print
media coverage of SecDef's reference to the terrorist
attack on Djerba and his remark linking economic and
political freedom in the country. The Tunisian press
rarely, if ever, mentions the Djerba attacks and similar
comments on the need for political reform made by
SecState Powell during his November 2003 visit were not
only censored, but were even rewritten to include praise
for Tunisia's human rights record. The print coverage of

the SecDef's remarks on these two subjects was probably
allowed because they echo statements that that GOT often
makes regarding the importance of economic progress as a
precursor to democracy. This does, however, represent a
small, but positive, evolution on the part of the
Tunisian print media, which has previously heavily edited
USG statements on the need for political reform in
Tunisia. Unfortunately, this does not apply to the
broadcast media, which carefully edited out such
references from the coverage of this visit. End Comment.


6. (U) Sample headlines on the visit include:

"La Presse" (government-owned French language daily):
"President Ben Ali receives Mr. Donald Rumsfeld: Tunisia-
USA: an important strategic partnership" "Declaration of
Mr. Donald Rumsfeld, American Secretary of Defense:
`Tunisia has always been a voice of moderation and
tolerance.'" "Minister of Foreign Affairs meets with the
American Secretary of Defense: Reinforcement of Bilateral
Relations and Seizing all Opportunities"

"Le Renouveau" (ruling party French language daily):
"President Ben Ali receives Mr. Donald Rumsfeld:
Willingness to increase friendly relations and
cooperation to the highest level." "'Tunisia, voice of
moderation and tolerance,' declares Rumsfeld." The lead
editorial in this newspaper also praised Tunisian-
American relations noting that "Between the USA and
Tunisian there is a strong friendship, mutual respect and
understanding that has always marked the secular
relationship that exists between the two countries."

"Ash Shourouq" (private Arabic language daily):
"Bilateral relations and current events in Ben Ali's
meeting with Rumsfeld." "Rumsfeld: Tunisia a voice of
moderation and tolerance." "Minister of Foreign Affairs
discusses with Rumsfeld ways to push forward bilateral
relations."

"Le Temps" (private French language daily): "Chief of
State receives the American Secretary of Defense:
Cooperation and strategic partnership" "Donald Rumsfeld:
Tunisia, voice of moderation and tolerance"

"As Sabah" (private Arabic language daily): "President
Ben Ali receives the American Minister of Defense:
Reinforcing the joint strategic goals between the two
countries. Necessity of relying on peaceful and legal
means to resolve problems." "Rumsfeld declaration:
Tunisia is a voice of moderation and tolerance and plays
a key role in fighting terrorism in the region."

"Le Quotidien" (private French language daily): "Ben Ali
- Rumsfeld meeting: Examination of Tunisian-American
cooperation and regional questions" "Donald Rumsfeld:
`Tunisia, voice of moderation and tolerance.'" HUDSON