CONGRESSIONAL STAFF VISIT: GOT HONES ITS MESSAGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000272 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG - HOPKINS, HARRIS STATE ALSO FOR H E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL MASS ECON ETRD TS SUBJECT: CONGRESSIONAL STAFF VISIT: GOT HONES ITS MESSAGE Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBERT F. GODEC FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d) ¶1. (C) Increasingly focused on its public face, the GOT has begun to advertise its success story for US policy- and opinion-makers through familiarization visits. The GOT is also targeting its message to attract foreign assistance dollars. During a February 19-25 visit of a group of ten Congressional staffers to Tunisia, the GOT spun a message of development, tolerance and women's achievement. Several key ministers (including Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Development and International Cooperation) stressed Tunisia's need for foreign assistance funding and "unique" treatment. While it is not clear who is footing the bill for these visits, the GOT is clearly engaging key influencers in an effort to improve its image. ¶2. (C) The recent visit of a delegation of Congressional staffers follows on the heels of similar visits by other Hill staffers, US newspaper editors, and journalists. The February 19-25 group was organized by the Washington-based MidAmr consulting firm and ostensibly hosted by the cash-strapped Tunisian-American Chamber of Commerce (TACC). While TACC insisted it managed the group's activities, the schedule and topics of discussion were clearly determined by the GOT. In fact, the visit had all the hallmarks of being organized by the Tunisian Agency for External Communication (ATCE),a Presidential body responsible for managing Tunisia's image abroad. ¶3. (C) The group's schedule included events to showcase Tunisia's political, economic and social development, such as a visit to a USAID-funded family health clinic, a meeting with a loyal opposition party leader, and a visit to a rural development project. Building on these positive examples, three senior ministers each spent almost an hour encouraging the staffers to consider Tunisia's special needs upon their return to the Hill. Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdelwaheb Abdallah focused on the long history of strong US-Tunisia bilateral relations and highlighted common foreign policy goals. ¶4. (C) Two ministers made more specific pitches to the delegation to attract Congressional interest and understanding of Tunisia. Minister of National Defense Kamel Morjane delivered a stronger message on the need for increased FMF dollars, noting that Tunisia has long been a counterterrorism partner and ally. Morjane explained that the Tunisian military is dependent on US assistance, which directly impacts Tunisia's ability to combat terrorism. Without this support, Morjane said, the GOT will have to look elsewhere for assistance. Minister of Development and International Cooperation Mohamed Nouri Jouini told staffers that Tunisia's economy is unique and complex. While Tunisia would like to increase its trade relations with the United States, Jouini said that USTR's "one (FTA) size fits all" strategy is inappropriate for Tunisia. Staffers found both ministers' views relevant to their work on trade and foreign assistance matters. ¶5. (C) Comment: To provide context for their visit, Ambassador and key EmbOffs briefed the delegation on US goals in Tunisia for more than two hours. The group left Tunisia armed with arguments to support increasing US-Tunisia engagement. One staffer, Michael Ryan noted that Congressman Bud Cramer (D-AL) hopes to form a Tunisia Caucus in the coming year. Such a development could be useful in increasing the focus on Tunisia and encouraging change, most importantly increased freedom. End Comment. GODEC