AMBASSADOR PRESSES FM ABDALLAH ON DEMOCRACY

S E C R E T TUNIS 001109

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL TS
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESSES FM ABDALLAH ON DEMOCRACY

REF: A. SECTO 8

B. TUNIS 650

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


1. (S/NF) In a one-on-one meeting on October 18, the
Ambassador raised with Foreign Minister Abdallah the
importance of further progress on democracy in Tunisia. The
Ambassador noted the Secretary's remarks on the subject to
President Ben Ali in early September (ref. A) and his request
for specific areas where progress is needed. The Ambassador
also observed that he had provided a non-paper on freedom on
expression to the Minister in June (ref. B),stressing the
United States welcomed the GOT's decision to remove the
blocks it had placed on the Amnesty International and
Facebook websites. The Ambassador then offered to provide
the Minister with a list of steps the GOT might consider to
advance democracy.


2. (S/NF) The Minister said he welcomed the US non-paper and
accepted it. He pointed out that Tunisia had on October 17
met with representatives of the European Union for their
second, annual discussion of democracy and human rights. He
said the meeting had gone well (further details from the EU
will be provided septel). The FM asked that the US
Government publicly welcome progress the GOT makes on
democracy. The Ambassador indicated that when there is
progress, the United States is prepared to welcome it
publicly.


3. (S/NF) Comment. The run up to the 2009 election in
Tunisia provides an opportunity for the US Government to
remind the GOT of the importance of further progress on
democracy. Building on the Secretary's recent meeting with
President Ben Ali, our non-paper lays out concrete steps the
GOT might take to advance political freedoms. We have sent
the non-paper to NEA/MAG by e-mail and encourage Washington
officials to draw from it, when appropriate, when meeting
with GOT officials. End comment.
GODEC