CODEL MEEK PRESSES GOT ON SOFA, OBSERVES JCET

S E C R E T TUNIS 001216


E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER MASS TS
SUBJECT: CODEL MEEK PRESSES GOT ON SOFA, OBSERVES JCET

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

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Summary
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1. (C) CODEL Meek used its December 6 meeting with Defense
Minister Morjane to press for a Status of Forces Agreement.
Morjane noted that he would be meeting with President Ben Ali
later that day and that he might raise the issue. He also
planned to discuss peace-keeping operations with Ben Ali; he
foreshadowed an increase in Tunisia's PKO contributions,
presumably for the Congo. The group also met with Ministry
of Foreign Affairs Secretary of State for Maghreb, Arab, and
African Affairs Abdelhafidh Hargeum, who asked for greater
cooperation in the area of science and technology. Both
interlocutors underscored Tunisia's holistic approach to
combating extremism, an approach that emphasizes economic
development and social advancement. The Secretary of State
was unable to predict when the GOT would name a new
Ambassador to Washington. End Summary.

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Pressing for Engagement on Draft SOFA Text
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2. (S) Representative Kendrick Meek was accompanied by
Congressmen Charles Boustany and Andre Carson on his December
5-7 visit to Tunisia, as well as by two professional staff
members of the House Armed Services Committee, Mark Lewis and
Josh Holley. In their December 6 meeting with Minister of
National Defense Kamel Morjane, the CODEL underscored the
importance of concluding a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).
Morjane took the point but explained that the GOT is
sensitive about certain "sensitive elements" in the latest
US-proposed draft. He went on to note that the GOT had been
flummoxed to receive a second US draft that was "completely
different" from the first draft. It was not just a question
of a few articles, he explained. The whole concept was
different with many new ideas introduced that were "not
acceptable" to the GOT.


3. (S) Morjane said that the GOT been particularly concerned
by the justice-related clauses in the USG's second draft.
The delegation of justice, he explained, "just doesn't
happen." He continued that only in special exceptions can a
judge determine himself not competent to decide a case.
Thus, it would be "very difficult" to give judicial power to
"someone else." Describing the Tunisian mentality, Morjane
said that, "Sometimes we do things better and more
efficiently without putting them in writing." Indeed, he
said, some people question the need for a SOFA when the
Unitd States and Tunisia enjoy such good relations.

4. (S) Morjane mused that perhaps what was needed was a third
text. Rep. Boustany suggested that it might also be possible
for the GOT to approach Secretary of Defense Gates with the
initial text. Ambassador Godec noted that we were hoping to
get comments from the GOT on the second draft, but that we
would welcome any GOT engagement on the issue so that we can
better understand Tunisian concerns. Morjane noted that he
would be seeing President Ben Ali later that day and that he
would "maybe try" to raise the issue of the SOFA with him.

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How Tunisia Combats Extremism
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5. (C) In response to Rep. Cason's opening remarks about how
he as a Muslim ws proud to see Tunisia's efforts in
cooperation with the United States to combat terrorism,
Morjan launched into a long soliloquy about the Ministryof
National Defense's (MND's) role. He explained that under the
Tunisian Constitution the MND has three broad mandates: (a)
defending Tunisia from external attack; (b) development of
the country through a special unit that builds roads and
other infrastructure; and (c) participation in peace-keeping
operations. With respect to this last item, Morjane noted
that Tunisia has a long history of contribution to UN PKOs,
citing the fact that Tunisian soldiers were the first to
arrive in the Congo in 1960, seven days after the relevant
UNSCR passed. He also noted that he planned to discuss
peacekeeping with President Ben Ali in their meeting later
that day, suggesting that, "We might make more contributions"
presumably to the Congo.


6. (C) Morjane clarified that the Ministry of the Interior
has primacy in combating terrorism; the MND has a secondary
role. He also explained that the GOT's approach to fighting
extremism is holistic. Noting that the kind of Islam
practiced in Tunisia is "modern" and "open-minded," he
recalled how the Tunisian intellectual Tahar al-Haddad had
written a book advocating for women's rights as early as the
1930's. Morjane also credited Tunisia with being the only
Arab country where polygamy is forbidden by law.
The spirit of tolerance is ingrained in Tunisia, he said, and
has been since St. Augustine's time. That said, there are
some who say that Tunisians are not "good Muslims." Morjane
said that we have to be careful about this attitude, but we
also need to be mindful not to contribute to the feeling that
we are fighting Islam. For that reason, he said, Tunisia
hosts many conferences on religious tolerance.

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Mil-Mil Cooperation: Observing a JCET in Action
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7. (C) Morjane expressed appreciation for the role the
visiting Members of Congress and others had played in
securing Foreign Military Financing (FMF) for Tunisia.
Referring to previous cuts in FMF, he noted that GOT leaders
had been "very disappointed." He acknowledged, however, that
things had since gotten better, noting that the Tunisian
military had just this month received a new UH-1H helicopter
and that the USG was in the process of providing much-needed
assistance in the form of night-vision goggles and ground
surveillance radar. Later in the day on December 6, the
CODEL traveled to the Sidi Ahmed airbase in Bizerte to
observe Joint Combined Exercises and Training for a
helicopter unit that will be benefiting from the new night
vision equipment.

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Extolling Positive Bilateral Relations and
Looking Forward to Engaging with the New Administration
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8. (SBU) Both Morjane and Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Secretary of State for Maghreb, Arab, and African Affairs
Abdelhafidh Hargeum, with whom the delegation also met on
December 6, assessed that US-Tunisian relations are
excellent. Referring to his visit to Washington last May for
the Joint Military Commission, Morjane expressed appreciation
for the warm welcome he received. He noted that he had been
pleased to learn that President-elect Obama had chosen to
keep Secretary of Defense Gates in place and to nominate his
"good friend" Susan Rice as Ambassador to the United Nations.
Morjane noted that he would be sending letters of
congratulations to both at the appropriate time.


9. (C) The MFA's Hargeum echoed familiar GOT talking points
about Tunisia's economic and social policies, which place a
priority on human development. On Tunisia's foreign policy,
he emphasized the importance the GOT attaches to having
friendly relations with all countries. He noted that
relations with the United States have always been
"privileged, and excellent, regardless of Administration."
Hargeum catalogued areas of US-Tunisian engagement, singling
out science and technology -- "the driving force of Tunisian
development" as a field that warranted further cooperation.
In this regard, he cited President Ben Ali's directive that
the technology parks ("technopoles") that are scattered
throughout Tunisia be used to improve higher education and
spur development. Hargeum voiced appreciation for the role
played by the Tunisia Caucus on Capitol Hill, to which
Congressman Meek responded by noting that he looked forward
to engaging the leadership of the Caucus.

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But No ETA for a New Ambassador
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10. (C) Noting that the USG is in a time of transition, Rep.
Meek underscored the importance of having a Tunisian
Ambassador in Washington who will be able to engage with the
new Administration at an appropriate level. Asked whether he
had an idea as to when the GOT would announce its new
candidate to that post, Hargeum responded that a decision
would be made "as soon as possible." (Note: The MFA's
Director for the Americas who served as notetaker for the
Tunisian side during the meeting whispered in ear of EmbOff
notetaker that the MFA had "no idea.")

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HA Site Visit
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11. (U) The Delegation also visited a La Marsa school for
autistic children, the construction of which had been
partially funded by the Office for Security Cooperation's
Humanitarian Affairs program. Despite the fact that the
visit took place on a Sunday just before the Eid al-Adha
holiday, several students and family members were present for
the visit, as well as the school's administrators. The CODEL
was impressed with the facility and the excellent
psychological, medical, and social support that it provides
to the special needs children. Members offered to try to
link up the group with interested US counterparts.

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Comment
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12. (C) CODEL Meek made a valuable contribution advancing
US-Tunisian relations, and the Tunisians were pleased with
the visit. Morjane seemed particularly touched when Rep.
Carson noted that he is Muslim, and referred to him as
"brother." Indeed, the tenor of the exchange was warmer than
Morjane's usual stock briefings, with a much greater emphasis
on the social/economic development responsibilities of the
Army. The Embassy will continue to follow up with GOT
interlocutors on the draft SOFA, potential PKO contributions,
and the naming of a new Ambassador to Washington. End
Comment.


12. (U) CODEL Meek did not have a chance to clear this cable
before departing Post.

Please visit Embassy Tunis' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/tunis/index.c fm


Godec