Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TUNIS194
2008-03-03 17:00:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Tunis
Cable title:  

A/S WELCH'S TOUR D'HORIZON WITH MINISTER OF

Tags:  PREL PTER IR IZ SY LE SE XI 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ5516
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTU #0194/01 0631700
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 031700Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4524
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
S E C R E T TUNIS 000194 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

FOR NEA/FO - WELCH AND GRAY; NEA/MAG - HOPKINS AND HARRIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS AND YERGER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER IR IZ SY LE SE XI
SUBJECT: A/S WELCH'S TOUR D'HORIZON WITH MINISTER OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS ABDALLAH

REF: A. TUNIS 193

B. TUNIS 84

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

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

S E C R E T TUNIS 000194

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

FOR NEA/FO - WELCH AND GRAY; NEA/MAG - HOPKINS AND HARRIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS AND YERGER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER IR IZ SY LE SE XI
SUBJECT: A/S WELCH'S TOUR D'HORIZON WITH MINISTER OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS ABDALLAH

REF: A. TUNIS 193

B. TUNIS 84

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

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


1. (S) In the course of several hours of interactions between
NEA A/S Welch and Foreign Minister Abdallah on February 28,
Welch conveyed the latest US thinking on Lebanon, Syria, the
proposed Arab League summit, Iraq, Iran, the
Israeli-Palestinian peace process, and Kosovo, among other
topics. Abdallah responded that:

-- He was not optimistic about a solution to the situation in
Lebanon in the short term. On the upcoming Arab League
summit, the Syrians are convinced that postponing the summit
would reflect badly on Syria. Thus, the SARG is trying to
convince Arab states to participate, notwithstanding the
absence of a President in Lebanon.

-- In the face of the Israeli siege on Gaza, Hamas had been
able to win the sympathy of those who had previously rejected
their separatism. Tunisia would not be "against" the notion
of moderate Arab states helping to create a public perception
of momentum behind the negotiating process, but he also
referred to the difficulty posed by the current situation on
the ground.

-- Tunisia has not "yet" recognized Kosovo; while the GOT
favors self-determination, it does not want to make this
decision in a "religious optic." The GOT will also take into
consideration discussions on the matter at the upcoming OIC
summit in Dakar.

Abdallah also previewed that the GOT would "soon" reopen its
Embassy in Qatar, notwithstanding the GOT's continued
displeasure with al-Jazeera's hostile media coverage
vis-a-vis Tunisia. Abdallah's mood was positive and his tone
friendly. He was visibly pleased with the visit and
positively beamed when talking about President Ben Ali's
satisfaction with it. End Summary.

2.(C) Following the lengthy meeting between NEA A/S Welch and

President Ben Ali, which Foreign Minister Abdelwaheb Abdallah
attended (Ref A),the FM hosted a working lunch for Welch,
the Ambassador, Executive Assistant to the Deputy National
Security Advisor, NEA Staff Assistant and Pol/EconCouns. The
lunch was followed by an extended office call. The mood in
both was friendly and the conversation relaxed. Abdallah
started the lunch by commenting on how "at ease" President
Ben Ali had been: "It was clear that he felt he was speaking
with a friend and not just an American official."

--------------
Lebanon/Syria/Iran and the Arab League Summit
--------------


3. (C) Turning to the prospect of a new president being
elected in Lebanon, A/S Welch laid out three possible
scenarios: (a) Election of a president by consensus; (b)
Election by 50 percent plus one; or (c) No election -- a
continuation of the current situation, with authorities in
place exercising controls of government. He continued that
the USG would prefer to see a president elected, but not at
any price. Thus, we need to be prepared for the third
option. Abdallah responded that there does not appear to be
a sense of urgency in Lebanon to elect a president. Rather,
the Lebanese people are getting used to the notion that their
institutions can keep running, even without a president in
place.


4. (C) Abdallah said that he was not optimistic that a
solution would be found in the near future. The problem, he
said, is not just Syria, but also Iran. He attributed the
"rigid attitude of Hizballah" to the confidence on the part
of Hizballah leaders that Iran will back them up. The FM
referred to a conversation he had had with his Iranian
counterpart, whom he said had asked for Tunisia's assistance
in persuading African states that they would benefit from
improved relations with Iran. Abdallah said he took the
opportunity to ask his counterpart to help "smooth things
out" with Hizballah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. The
response, he said, was clear: "Hizballah and Hamas are simply
following their destiny."



5. (C) A/S Welch asked FM Abdallah for his views on how the
Arab League summit planned for March 5-6 would play out.
Abdallah responded that the Syrians are in the midst of a
campaign to convince member states to participate in the
summit. His assessment was that the Syrians seem to believe
that postponing the summit would reflect badly on Syria.
Asked how the situation would likely play out if it is not
postponed, Abdallah predicted that "most" Arab countries,
except Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and perhaps some Gulf countries,
would follow Syria's urgings and participate in the summit.
Jordan, he continued, has not yet decided. Tunisia would
participate, but not at the presidential level (Ref A). He
explained that the GOT does not want to jeopardize its
"excellent" bilateral relations with Syria, including in the
realm of counter-terrorism cooperation.

--------------
No Promises On Sending a Positive Signal
--------------


6. (C) Expanding on his earlier discussion with President Ben
Ali on the matter, A/S Welch laid out the US perspective on
Israeli-Palestinian developments. On the one hand, there is
progress on the bilateral negotiating track. While the
substance of the Israeli-Palestinian talks is being kept
secret, Welch opined that the content was "encouraging." At

SIPDIS
the same time, the deterioration in the situation on the
ground is problematic. Among other things, it poses risks to
both the government of Palestinian Prime Minister Abbas and
the coalition led by Israeli Prime Minister Olmert.


7. (S) In this context, Welch explored with Abdallah current
US thinking on how best to protect the negotiation track in
the face of risks to it on the ground. He emphasized the
importance of demonstrating that the negotiation track will
yield tangible results to the Israeli and Palestinian people.
On the Palestinian side, one way to accomplish this would be
by addressing the hardships of occupation. On the Israeli
side, he said, there are various ideas about how to signal to
the Israeli people that they too will benefit from peace.
While respecting the confidentiality of the talks, Welch
suggested that there were other means to demonstrate
momentum, whether through a revival of the multilateral talks
or through other engagement. Welch urged "creative thinking"
among moderate Arab states about how to send such a signal,
noting that countries like Morocco and Bahrain had indicated
quietly that they would be willing to help. He underscored
that those in the Israeli cabinet who are prepared to pay the
cost of a settlement would benefit from much-needed
credibility among their peers as a result of such moves.

8. (C) Abdallah said that the GOT is "not against" such an
approach. At the same time, he said, the problem for
moderate countries like Tunisia is the situation on the
ground. Echoing comments he had made previously to the
Ambassador (Ref B),Abdallah expressed disappointment that
the Israeli blockade of Gaza had been a "gift" to Hamas
leaders, who had been able to exploit the situation to
portray Hamas as "martyrs" and win the sympathy of the
population. "It's as if the people have completely forgotten
that they were separatists!" he exclaimed. Referring to the
expected visit to Tunisia of Palestinian President Abbas in
March, Abdallah undertook to brief Ambassador Godec on the
substance of his meetings.

--------------
Iraq/Iran
--------------


9. (C) A/S Welch briefed the FM on recent developments in
Iraq, explaining the logic behind US policy. He noted that
there is increasing contact between Arab countries and Iraqi
representatives, and answered affirmatively to Abdallah's
question about the likelihood of Saudi Arabia reopening its
Embassy. In response to Abdallah's query about Iranian
influence in Iraq, Welch noted that there has been some
success in interrupting contact between the al-Quds brigade
of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and certain Shi'a
militias in Iraq.

-------------- -
The Threat of Extremism in North Africa, Egypt
-------------- -


10. (C) Abdallah noted with pride that Tunisians have
traditionally been characterized as a "rational" people,
unlike many other Arab nationals, including in North Africa,

where the phenomenon of Islamic extremism is on the rise.
A/S Welch asked for clarification about comments President
Ben Ali had made about the "explosiveness" of the region and
in Egypt in particular. The FM explained that there is a
perception that the United States has "more or less"
abandoned the GOE, just as Egypt is facing broadening support
for radical Islamists. Welch made clear that the strategic
relationship between the United States and Egypt is intact.
Abdallah blamed Arab media outlets, such as al-Jazeera, for
fanning the flames of extremism, noting that the GOT had
closed its Embassy in Qatar in October, 2006, to protest
al-Jazeera's coverage. He previewed, however, that the GOT
would "soon" reopen its Embassy in Qatar. The GOT remains
incensed over the "ferociousness" of its coverage of Tunisia,
but he had concluded that it did not make sense to "cut the
thread" completely.

--------------
Kosovo: Not Yet
--------------


11. (C) Asked about GOT policy vis-a-vis Kosovo, Abdallah
responded that Tunisia has not "yet" recognized Kosovo. He
explained that while the GOT favors self-determination it
does not want to make this decision in a "religious optic."
For now, Abdallah said, Tunisia is waiting and seeing how
other countries react. He expressed surprise that no African
country had yet recognized Kosovo as an independent state.
Indicating that he would be leading the Tunisian delegation
to the OIC summit in Dakar, Abdallah said he planned to take
advantage of this opportunity to sound out neighboring
countries from Africa and the Arab world. Asked if the GOT
had been lobbied on this matter by other countries, Abdallah
acknowledged that the Greek Foreign Minister had just
concluded a visit to Tunisia. huckling, he pointed out that
her meeting with Pesident Ben Ali had lasted only 45
minutes, whil A/S Welch's had been an hour longer. The
Serbins asked the MFA for its position on the matter without
trying to influence them, Abdallah continued. Queried about
any Russian contact, he said that they had only been active
at the Ambassadorial level in Tunisia.

--------------
Topics for Next US-AMU Meeting?
--------------


12. (C) A/S Welch suggested that if the October 2007
discussions on the margins of the UNGA between then-U/S Burns
and the foreign ministers of the Maghreb states serves as a
model for future such discussions, it would make sense to
include on the agenda more discussion of African issues, such
as Sudan and Chad. Abdallah agreed, suggesting that the
issue of Somalia could also be added to the agenda.

--------------
Bio Note
--------------


13. (C) At one point in the conversation, Abdallah made
reference to the comedy program, "The Daily Show with Jon
Stewart." He said that it is one of his favorite TV
programs, and that he and his children watch it regularly via
satellite.

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


14. (S) Abdallah was in high spirits and seemed genuinely
pleased with the visit. He visibly beamed when relating Ben
Ali's positive assessment of his meeting with Welch.
Throughout the lunch and subsequent meeting, Abdallah's mood
was positive and his tone friendly. The FM appeared willing
to consider outreach to Israel, but the current situation in
Gaza is clearly problematic for him. We will, however,
continue to explore options and ideas with the FM. The GOT's
foreign policy is among the most moderate in the region and
the FM has already met quietly with FM Livni. Ongoing,
high-level contact with the Tunisians may yet yield some
success. End Comment.


15. (U) A/S Welch did not have an opportunity to clear this
cable.

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