REPLY TO "MAY 21 - DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH CUBAN

UNCLAS TUNIS 000443

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM KPAO PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: REPLY TO "MAY 21 - DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH CUBAN
PEOPLE FOLLOW-UP"

REF: A. SECSTATE 46997


B. SECSTATE 45792


1. (U) We plan to distribute an IIP-prepared package of
appropriate written materials on the topic to the local press
and other key contacts.


2. (SBU) Tunisia has no known exiled Cuban community and the
topic of Cuba in general has no resonance with the Tunisian
public, except in the context of Guantanamo Bay. The
Government of Tunisia tightly controls activities by foreign
missions and would not permit a public event on the topic of
Cuba. Tunisia was included with Cuba by the White House in
its recent statement for Press Freedom Day. The
tightly-controlled Tunisian print and broadcast media markets
will provide few openings to raise awareness or initiate
debate on the topic of Cuba, much less prison conditions, a
sensitive subject here. Raising the topic would instead
invite a renewed flurry of negative reports on U.S. practices
in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, and none on Cuba.
GODEC