FOREIGN MISSIONS CONCERNED OVER GOT SILENCE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000196

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/FO - GRAY, NEA/MAG - HOPKINS, HARRIS
STATE ALSO FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/ITA, CA/OCS/ACS/NESA
NSC FOR ABRAMS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2017
TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL ASEC CASC TS
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MISSIONS CONCERNED OVER GOT SILENCE ON
SECURITY SITUATION

REF: TUNIS 154 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Ambassador Robert F. Godec for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C/NF) SUMMARY. Following January's report by the GOT that
it had disrupted a terrorist plot to attack US and UK
embassies and diplomats (reftels),security and consular
representatives from several Tunis-based embassies and
international organizations met on February 7 to discuss the
security situation. Attendees expressed disappointment and
frustration with GOT information sharing, and openly
questioned whether the official information being provided
was truthful. In particular, several asked whether economic
and tourism facilities were also among the intended targets.
The Canadians proposed a joint demarche to "demand" further
security information. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) On Wednesday, February 7, security and consular
representatives from the US Embassy (ARSO and ConChief),
Canadian, German, French, and Spanish embassies, and European
Commission, United Nations, and African Development Bank
(ADB) met at the Canadian Embassy in Tunis. UK and Japanese
Embassy representatives were invited but absent.


3. (C/NF) Participants agreed that the presence of terrorist
elements in Tunisia should not be a surprise, pointing out
the involvement of Tunisians in terror efforts abroad,
particularly in Iraq and Europe. The greater concern for the
assembled group was the lack of cooperation and even basic
information sharing by the GOT. The German Federal Police
representative reported that the Tunisian MOI took over two
weeks to respond to her request for a briefing, while the
Canadians remarked they had waited over four weeks.
(COMMENT: This despite official GOT statements of a threat to
diplomatic missions. END COMMENT.) Several attendees
(French, EC, US, Canadians) pointed out that the Tunisians
repeatedly shun offers of assistance on security and CT
issues. As an example of the difficulties faced when
interacting with the GOT on security matters, the EC
representative told of how, when recently reporting a
telephone bomb threat to their facility, she was instructed
by the GOT to "send a diplomatic note."


4. (C/NF) Several attendees questioned whether economic and
tourism facilities were also among the intended targets of
this recent plot. As of February 7, none of the attendees
reported any information to indicate a direct threat to their
nationals or to broader tourist or economic targets in
Tunisia. The German representative reminded the group of the
GOT's disingenuous initial response to the 2002 Djerba
bombing. (NOTE: On April 11, 2002, terrorists linked to
Al-Qaeda detonated a truck bomb in front of a synagogue on
the island of Djerba. Nineteen were killed, including 11
Germans and two French nationals. For days, the GOT insisted
that the explosion was an "accident," even after the
diplomatic community, world media, and the Tunisian public
had concluded that it was an act of terrorism. END NOTE.) UN
and German reps stated their belief that the "number one"
priority for the GOT is to protect tourism, and that this
priority calls into question the validity of information
provided by the GOT on security matters.


5. (C/NF) The Canadians, with a level of frustration that
bordered on anger, proposed a joint demarche to "demand"
further security information from the GOT and to register our
shared displeasure with the current level of engagement.
While most attendees did not respond directly to this call,
the EC representative was immediately enthusiastic. It was
noted by more than one attendee that this working level group
would not be the appropriate venue to make such a decision.


6. (C/NF) COMMENT: While the representatives were unified in
concern over recent events and subsequent Tunisian response,
there were indications that such views are not universally
held within their respective missions. The French Interior
Security Attache twice indicated that the French Ambassador
is concerned but "does not believe that this is too major"
before adding both times, "and that is one opinion." This
statement was made in English and it is possible that

language garbled the Attache's message, but his comments may
indicate some difference of opinion within the French mission
regarding the current situation. END COMMENT.


7. (SBU) The group agreed that these meetings should continue
on a regular basis. The next meeting is scheduled for April 4
at the US Embassy.
GODEC