VCJCS MAY 5 MEETING WITH FM ABDALLAH

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000573

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG (MHARRIS AND EHOPKINS)
USEUCOM FOR J5
DOD FOR USDP ADMIN/ISA/NESA//

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2017
TAGS: MARR MASS MOPS PGOV TS
SUBJECT: VCJCS MAY 5 MEETING WITH FM ABDALLAH

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR ROBERT F. GODEC FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY. DURING HIS MAY 4-6 VISIT TO TUNISIA, VICE
CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF ADMIRAL EDMUND
GIAMBASTIANI MET WITH FOREIGN MINISTER ABDELWAHEB ABDALLAH ON
MAY 5 TO DISCUSS BILATERAL MILITARY AND COUNTERTERRORISM
COOPERATION. ABDALLAH SAID THAT, THANKS TO WISE POLITICAL,
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL POLICIES, THE GOT IS IN FULL CONTROL OF
THE DOMESTIC SITUATION. HOWEVER, ABDALLAH SAID THAT TUNISIA
IS CONCERNED ABOUT EXTERNAL TERRORIST THREATS. ADM
GIAMBASTIANI TOLD THE FM THAT COOPERATION ON THE GLOBAL WAR
ON TERRORISM IS EXCEPTIONALLY IMPORTANT AND SAID THAT THE USG
LOOKS FORWARD TO CONTINUED DIALOGUE ON COUNTERTERRORISM
ISSUES. ADM GIAMBASTIANI SAID THAT THE USG WANTS TO CONTINUE
THE STRONG BILATERAL MILITARY ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING
FINALIZING A STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) PARTICIPANTS:

U.S.
--------------
ADMIRAL EDMUND GIAMBASTIANI, VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT
CHIEFS OF STAFF
AMBASSADOR ROBERT F. GODEC
COL RONALD TUGGLE, J5
COL ROBERT NOLAN, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
MARK GORENFLO, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
SUSANNAH COOPER, EMBASSY NOTETAKER

TUNISIA
--------------

FOREIGN MINISTER ABDELWAHEB ABDALLAH
HATEM ATALLAH, CHIEF OF STAFF
MOHAMED SALEH TEKAYA, OFFICE OF THE MINISTER
SAIDA CHTIOUI, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE AMERICAS AND ASIA
MHAMED CHELAIFA, DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR THE AMERICAS AND ASIA
HOLLA BACHTOBJI, DIRECTOR FOR THE AMERICAS
MOHAMED KANTARA, DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION


3. (C) FOREIGN MINISTER ABDELWAHEB ABDALLAH BEGAN THE MEETING
BY TELLING VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF ADMIRAL
GIAMBASTIANI THAT TUNISIA CONSIDERS ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
UNITED STATES ONE OF "STRATEGIC COOPERATION". ABDALLAH SAID
THAT THE GOT INSISTS ON MAINTAINING THE DOMESTIC STABILITY IT
HAS ACHIEVED THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WOMEN'S
EMPOWERMENT, EDUCATION AND DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS. THE
FOREIGN MINISTER SAID THAT DUE TO SIGNIFICANT GOT INVESTMENT
IN EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT, TUNISIA'S MILITARY BUDGET
REMAINS MODEST. TUNISIA IS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE SECURITY
SITUATION, SAID ABDALLAH, BUT IT DOES FACE THREATS FROM
OUTSIDE ITS BORDERS, PARTICULARLY TO THE SOUTH AND WEST.
ABDALLAH OPINED THAT THE UNITED STATES AND TUNISIA ENJOY
EXCELLENT COOPERATION ON COUNTERTERRORISM ISSUES, BUT THAT
THERE CAN BE FURTHER IMPROVEMENT.


4. (C) ADM GIAMBASTIANI TOLD THE FM THAT HIS VISIT
DEMONSTRATED THE IMPORTANCE THE USG ATTACHES TO US-TUNISIAN
MILITARY COOPERATION. HE STRESSED THAT CONTINUED COOPERATION
ON THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. ADM GIAMBASTIANI COMPLIMENTED THE GOT'S
DISRUPTION OF A TERRORIST CELL IN DECEMBER 2006 AND JANUARY
2007 AND SAID THE USG LOOKS FORWARD TO CONTINUED
COUNTERTERRORISM COOPERATION. RECOGNIZING GOT DISAPPOINTMENT
OVER DECREASING FMF FUNDING IN FY08, ADM GIAMBASTIANI SAID
THAT HE HOPES TO FIND A WAY TO CONTINUE USG SUPPORT FOR THE
TUNISIAN MILITARY. THE ADMIRAL ASKED FOR THE MINISTER'S
ATTENTION TO THE GOT'S REVIEW OF THE PROPOSED STATUS OF
FORCES AGREEMENT (SOFA),WHICH WOULD BE A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION
AT THE UPCOMING JOINT MILITARY COMMISSION. ABDALLAH SAID
THAT THE GOT IS IN THE PROCESS OF FINALIZING THE SOFA.


5. (C) ABDALLAH CLOSED THE MEETING BY SAYING HE HOPED TO SEE
ADM GIAMBASTIANI DURING HIS UPCOMING VISIT TO WASHINGTON IN
JUNE. HE ADDED THAT HE WAS PLEASED TO RECEIVE FORMER
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE RUMSFELD IN TUNIS IN FEBRUARY 2006 AND

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HAD PREVIOUSLY MET WITH DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ENGLAND.
ADM GIAMBASTIANI SAID HE HOPED THAT THE FOREIGN MINISTER
WOULD ALSO MEET WITH SECRETARY GATES.


6. (U) THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF CLEARED
THIS MESSAGE.
GODEC