Special Media Reaction: A/S Welch visit to Tunis

UNCLAS TUNIS 000637

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/FO (DONICK,GRAY) NEA/RA (FOX) NEA/MAG (LAWRENCE)
NEA/PPD (WHITE, AGNEW) NEA/PA NEA/IPA I/GNEA CWG-PD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO OIIP TS
SUBJECT: Special Media Reaction: A/S Welch visit to Tunis
March 14- 16, 2006



1. (SBU) Summary. Tunisian media provided wide and
positive coverage of the March 14 -16 visit of Assistant
Secretary Welch. Headlines in all papers focused on the

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strength and "excellence" of U.S.-Tunisian relations and
referred to "discussions of international issues of
mutual concern." Two of the more independent private
newspapers reported accurately on A/S Welch's comments on
the need for further political reform in Tunisia, as did
the AP wire service. The government-owned newspapers
capitalized on the visit in editorials praising Tunisian
diplomacy and its "balanced foreign-policy." While
broadcast media covered A/S Welch's meetings with GOT
officials, including the President, Tunisian television
and radio did not cover the press conference. End
Summary.


2. (U) All of the March 15, 2006 Tunisian dailies led
with photos and articles dedicated to the visit of A/S
Welch. All papers published an article written by the
official Tunisian news agency (TAP) on A/S Welch's
meeting with President Ben Ali with headlines emphasizing
the strength of Tunisian-American relations and a "common
will to reinforce" these bilateral relations. Some of
these papers also sub-headlined the fact that the
meetings had included discussions of "international
questions of mutual interest such as the Palestinian-
Israeli conflict." The TAP article also contained
excerpts from A/S Welch's stand-up after the meeting,
highlighting the fact that he had passed to President Ben
Ali the warm greetings of American officials such as the
President, the Vice-President, and Secretary Rice and
that they had discussed the issues of Iran, instability
in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories.
Tunisian television and radio also reported on the
meeting with President Ben Ali, highlighting the same
issues as the print media.


3. (U) Two of the March 15 government-owned newspapers
also carried a TAP article on A/S Welch's meeting with
Minister of Development and Economic Cooperation Mohamed
Nouri Jouini. The article highlighted A/S Welch's praise
for the fact that Tunisia had accomplished political
stability and significant socioeconomic progress that
made it attractive to American investors. Three of the
government-owned newspapers also carried editorials
citing the visit of A/S Welch as further proof of
Tunisia's diplomatic skills and "balanced foreign
policy."


4. (SBU) While most papers covered the March 15 press
conference, there was a clear divide in the nature of the
reporting by the government-owned and government-
controlled private press and that of the more independent
private press and the international wire services. The
government-owned newspapers again highlighted A/S Welch's
praise for Tunisia and then focused on his explanation of
the events in Jericho and the US position in Hamas. The
government-controlled private Tunisian newspapers focused
their reporting on the press conference almost
exclusively on the situation in Jericho, Hamas, and "the
difficult situation" in Iraq, with passing mention of
American readiness "to support human rights, democracy,
and free enterprise in Tunisia." The more independent
privately-owned papers, while also highlighting the
Assistant Secretary's praise for Tunisia, accurately
reported on A/S Welch's comments that those who do not go
forward on the path of reform, go backwards as well as
the call for political reform to include "the right to
free and peaceful assembly, civil society, more channels
of information and free internet access." The AP wire
story on the press conference focused almost exclusively
on A/S Welch's call for reinforcing human rights and
democracy in Tunisia. There was no television coverage
of the press conference.


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

"La Presse" (government-owned French language daily):
"President Ben Ali receives the American Assistant
Secretary for Middle East affairs. Tunisian-American

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relations excellent in all areas, declares Mr. David
Welch." "Press Conference with Mr. David Welch,
Assistant Secretary of State: `Our partnership with
Tunisia will remain strong.' `President Bush gives great
importance to the counsel and views of President Ben
Ali.'" "Tunisia has much to be proud of in its great
accomplishments.'" "Tunisia-US economic cooperation:

Tunisia, an attractive destination for American
investments."

"Le Renouveau" (ruling party French language daily):
"President Ben Ali receives the American Assistant
Secretary for Middle East affairs. Tunisian-American

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relations excellent in all areas." "Tunisia-USA: Homage
to the socio-economic progress realized by Tunisia."

"Ash Shourouq" (private Arabic language daily):
"Bilateral relations and developments on the
international scene were on the agenda of President Ben's
meeting with A/S Welch", "Tunisia-American partnership is
strong"

"Le Temps" (private French language daily): "The Chief of
State receives A/S David Welch. Exemplary relations.
Review of international issues of common concern." "For
50 years, the US has been a partner to Tunisia. And we
still support it in the deepening of its reforms."

"As Sabah" (private Arabic language daily): "A/S Welch:
`Relations with Tunisia are excellent in all areas.'",
"David Welch in a press conference: `This is what
happened in Jericho, and if we had the choice to stay, we
would have done so.'""Tunisia has a lot to be proud of at
various levels".

"Le Quotidien" (private French language daily): "Tunisia-
USA: Common will to reinforce bilateral relations." "US
Assistant Secretary for Middle East and North African
affairs: The situation in Iraq is difficult."

AP wire story: "Washington exhorts Tunisia to engage more
resolutely on the path to democracy." HUDSON