Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TUNIS1093
2008-10-14 15:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tunis
Cable title:  

SOCIAL DEMOCRATS SEEK INCREASED ECONOMIC

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO TS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTU #1093/01 2881549
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 141549Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5664
INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 001093 

SIPDIS

NEA/MAG (NARDI/STEWART); DRL (JOHNSTONE/KLARMAN)
LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO TS
SUBJECT: SOCIAL DEMOCRATS SEEK INCREASED ECONOMIC
COOPERATION WITH UNITED STATES

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

-------
Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 001093

SIPDIS

NEA/MAG (NARDI/STEWART); DRL (JOHNSTONE/KLARMAN)
LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO TS
SUBJECT: SOCIAL DEMOCRATS SEEK INCREASED ECONOMIC
COOPERATION WITH UNITED STATES

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

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) Ismail Boulahia, Secretary General of the Social
Democratic Movement (MDS) and MDS political bureau member
Taieb Mohsni, discussed the prospects for economic
cooperation with the Ambassador on October 7. Boulahia
explained his party's support of the ruling Democratic
Constitutional Rally (RCD) and President Ben Ali's candidacy
in 2009. The party is allowed to maintain regional offices
and is lobbying to be allowed to form a parliamentary group.
Touching on the unemployment protests in the southwestern
mining town of Gafsa, Boulahia said the GOT needed to focus
more on poorer regions. End Summary.

--------------
Hand in Hand with the RCD
--------------


2. (C) During his October 7 meeting with the Ambassador,
Social Democratic Movement (MDS) Secretary General Ismail
Boulahia explained that the MDS has always endorsed President
Ben Ali during elections. The largest opposition party in
the Chamber of Deputies, with 14 seats, the MDS is more
"tolerated" than other parties, Boulahia acknowledged. He
attributed this to the fact that the MDS is also once of the
oldest opposition parties, and has shunned even moderate
Islamists.


3. (C) Calling the MDS the RCD's "First Partner," Boulahia
said that Tunisia's best hope for progress was through
solidarity and support of the President's proposed
initiatives. He did note, however, that the MDS wishes to
form its own group within parliament and hopes to persuade
the RCD to agree. The Chamber of Deputies' current rules
dictate that a minimum of 10 percent of members (18 of 189)
are needed to form a parliamentary group. With only 14, the
MDS is unable to found a group on its own. Boulahia said
that President Ben Ali had agreed to lower the percentage to
7 percent, but the change has yet to be enacted.


4. (C) The MDS has been able to open and maintain offices
in all regions of Tunisia, including the southwestern mining
town of Gafsa where several unemployment protests took place

between January and June. Boulahia opined that a lack of
development in the region had spurred the protests, and
indicated that the GOT should do more to focus its
development efforts in impoverished areas such as Gafsa. He
added that steps need to be taken to involve youth,
especially women, in politics. Boulahia reminisced that when
he was young, he attended many kinds of political debates
while a university student. Today, he said, the government's
fear of extremists makes it impossible for any group to hold
such gatherings.

--------------
More Bilateral Economic Cooperation Needed
--------------


5. (C) Boulahia emphasized that his party was interested
supporting joint economic development initiatives as well as
participating in USG-sponsored exchange and English language
training programs. The Ambassador replied that he would
supply Boulahia with information on Embassy-supported English
language training programs held through the NGO AMIDEAST. He
also explained that though Economic Support Funds (ESF),the
Embassy will be funding several relevant programs. In
response to Boulahia's request for English-language books,
the Ambassador offered to see what resources the Embassy
could donate. He added that he was open to exploring
exchange-program possibilities.


6. (C) In the context of their discussion about Tunisia's
quest for increased economic development, Boulahia asked the
Ambassador for his assessment of Tunisia's economic climate.
The Ambassador responded that the United States had a number
of ideas on how to promote greater domestic and international
investment, and offered to share a list with the MDS. Among
those items he explained, was the implementation of a law
allowing franchising and initiatives to encourage a
transparent banking sector. He added that steps could be
taken to improve the profitability of the tourism sector,
which currently targets package tour clientele, to attract
more high-end tourists.


7. (C) After Boulahaia expressed an interest in a

sister-state partnership with the United States, the
Ambassador mentioned that Tunisia already has a state
partnership program with the state of Wyoming. He explained
that the partnership already included economic and military
cooperation aspects, but he would be happy to explore any
ideas the MDS might have to enhance the initiative.

--------------
Comment
--------------


8. (C) As can be expected with a representative from a
party close to the RCD, Boulahia did not stray far from GOT
talking points and mostly glossed over questions of increased
freedom of expression and freedom of association. We welcome
the MDS's expressed interest in participating in our projects
and will work to include members in future exchange programs.
End Comment.
GODEC