TUNISIAN ATTENDANCE AT G8-BMENA FORUM FOR THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 001358 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/PI - THORKELSON AND NEA/MAG - HOPKINS, HARRIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2017 TAGS: PREL KMPI KDEM TS SUBJECT: TUNISIAN ATTENDANCE AT G8-BMENA FORUM FOR THE FUTURE SUBMINISTERIAL REF: STATE 136556 Classified By: CDA MARC DESJARDINS FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d) ¶1. (U) On October 9, MFA Deputy Director for the Americas Moez Sinaoui told PolOff that Tunisia will most likely be represented at the G8-BMENA Forum for the Future Subministerial by Tunisian Ambassador to Germany Moncef Ben Abdallah. However, Sinaoui stressed no official decision had been taken yet. ¶2. (C) COMMENT AND BIO NOTE: The GOT usually elects to send resident diplomats to events in foreign countries that are below the ministerial level. In fact, it is not uncommon for the Tunisian ambassador in Cairo to represent the Foreign Minister at Arab League ministerials, for example. Ben Abdallah is no lightweight, having previously served as Minister of Industry and Energy from 1997 - 2003 and held many other senior positions in the GOT. END COMMENT. DESJARDINS