Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TUNIS145
2008-02-15 08:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tunis
Cable title:
GOT DISMAYED BY FY09 FMF CUTS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHTU #0145 0460824 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 150824Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4432 INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEPGCA/USEUCOM AIDES VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000145
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/FO (GRAY),NEA/RA, PM AND NEA/MAG (HARRIS AND
HOPKINS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018
TAGS: MARR PTER PREL PGOV TS
SUBJECT: GOT DISMAYED BY FY09 FMF CUTS
Classified By: Ambassador Robert F. Godec for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000145
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/FO (GRAY),NEA/RA, PM AND NEA/MAG (HARRIS AND
HOPKINS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018
TAGS: MARR PTER PREL PGOV TS
SUBJECT: GOT DISMAYED BY FY09 FMF CUTS
Classified By: Ambassador Robert F. Godec for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) On the margins of the February 10-12 visit of a
delegation led by S/CT Ambassador-at-Large Dell Dailey
(septel),NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary Gordon Gray briefed
Foreign Minister Abdelwaheb Abdallah and Defense Minister
Kamel Morjane on the expected decline in FY09 Foreign
Military Financing (FMF) for Tunisia. DAS Gray explained
that the decline was a reflection of the tough budget climate
in the United States and said there was no hidden political
message for Tunisia. Rather, the State Department had done
its best to allocate as much FMF as possible to Tunisia given
Congressional earmarks. DAS Gray added that State will
continue to look for creative ways to identify other funding
opportunities to increase assistance to Tunisia.
2. (C) Defense Minister Morjane reacted strongly to Gray's
comments, saying the cut has a negative impact on
U.S.-Tunisian relations. Morjane said the continued decline
in FMF was leading him to believe it is no longer worth the
effort to try to lobby for U.S. support. While the ultimate
decision was President Ben Ali's, Morjane said his own advice
would be to "forget it." Morjane noted that Tunisia is
asking for $10 million in FMF, which is a very important sum
for Tunisia but not for the United States. The cut is more
difficult to understand when the USG comes to Tunisia, as in
the S/CT delegation, to press for Tunisian CT support. The
Tunisian military is making every effort and needs no
convincing of the necessity of its CT activities, said
Morjane. He added that he would raise the same points during
the May 2008 Joint Military Commission meetings in
Washington.
3. (C) Foreign Minister Abdallah elaborated on Morjane's
reaction, commenting that the cuts directly affect Tunisia's
security. "We need help with our borders because they are
difficult to control," said Abdallah, particularly with
Algeria. He added that the Tunisian military needs
sophisticated border surveillance equipment that the GOT
cannot afford because it invests the majority of its budget
in developmental programs that address the root causes of
terrorism. Abdallah concluded that Tunisia needs U.S.
financial assistance, but will continue to fight terrorism
regardless of the U.S. contribution.
Please visit Embassy Tunis' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/tunis/index.c fm
GODEC
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/FO (GRAY),NEA/RA, PM AND NEA/MAG (HARRIS AND
HOPKINS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018
TAGS: MARR PTER PREL PGOV TS
SUBJECT: GOT DISMAYED BY FY09 FMF CUTS
Classified By: Ambassador Robert F. Godec for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) On the margins of the February 10-12 visit of a
delegation led by S/CT Ambassador-at-Large Dell Dailey
(septel),NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary Gordon Gray briefed
Foreign Minister Abdelwaheb Abdallah and Defense Minister
Kamel Morjane on the expected decline in FY09 Foreign
Military Financing (FMF) for Tunisia. DAS Gray explained
that the decline was a reflection of the tough budget climate
in the United States and said there was no hidden political
message for Tunisia. Rather, the State Department had done
its best to allocate as much FMF as possible to Tunisia given
Congressional earmarks. DAS Gray added that State will
continue to look for creative ways to identify other funding
opportunities to increase assistance to Tunisia.
2. (C) Defense Minister Morjane reacted strongly to Gray's
comments, saying the cut has a negative impact on
U.S.-Tunisian relations. Morjane said the continued decline
in FMF was leading him to believe it is no longer worth the
effort to try to lobby for U.S. support. While the ultimate
decision was President Ben Ali's, Morjane said his own advice
would be to "forget it." Morjane noted that Tunisia is
asking for $10 million in FMF, which is a very important sum
for Tunisia but not for the United States. The cut is more
difficult to understand when the USG comes to Tunisia, as in
the S/CT delegation, to press for Tunisian CT support. The
Tunisian military is making every effort and needs no
convincing of the necessity of its CT activities, said
Morjane. He added that he would raise the same points during
the May 2008 Joint Military Commission meetings in
Washington.
3. (C) Foreign Minister Abdallah elaborated on Morjane's
reaction, commenting that the cuts directly affect Tunisia's
security. "We need help with our borders because they are
difficult to control," said Abdallah, particularly with
Algeria. He added that the Tunisian military needs
sophisticated border surveillance equipment that the GOT
cannot afford because it invests the majority of its budget
in developmental programs that address the root causes of
terrorism. Abdallah concluded that Tunisia needs U.S.
financial assistance, but will continue to fight terrorism
regardless of the U.S. contribution.
Please visit Embassy Tunis' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/tunis/index.c fm
GODEC