CODEL MCCOLLUM TOUR D'HORIZON

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000759

SIPDIS

NEA/MAG (WILLAMS/STEWART)
DRL (JOHNSTONE/KLARMAN)
NEA/PPD (DOUGLAS/AGNEW)
LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM KPAO TS
SUBJECT: CODEL MCCOLLUM TOUR D'HORIZON

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

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Summary
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1. (C) Over the course of a four day visit, Congresswoman
Betty McCollum and Congressional Staff Member Brooke Bennett
met with an impressive number of Tunisian government and
civil society representatives, carrying a message of US
engagement and interest in pursuing shared objectives. The
government officials with whom CODEL McCollum met did not
significantly diverge from standard GOT talking points,
stressing Tunisia's common cause with the United States in
combating terrorism. McCollum's meeting with the Minister of
Defense resulted in an offer to provide new details on the
GOT's military equipment needs. In addition to her
government meetings, McCollum met with representatives of
American companies and a cross-section of civil society
representatives, many of whom expressed concern about the
lack of freedom of expression and association in Tunisia.
End Summary.

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Many Voices, One Point of View
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2. (C) Representative Betty McCollum and Congressional
Staffer Brooke Bennett visited Tunisia from July 1-5. CODEL
McCollum met with three Ministers, as well as the Prime
Minister, whom she met briefly at the Embassy's 4th of July
reception, two parliamentarians, the Secretary of State for
American and Asian Affairs, and the Director General of the
Tunisian Agency for External Communication. The message from
all was fairly similar: Tunisia is a friend of the United
States and is focused on security. This message was
strongest from the Ministry of National Defense (MND),many
of whose officers trained in the United States and most of
whose aging equipment is of American origin. Minister of
Defense Kamel Morjane explained that counter-terrorism is the
Ministry's priority, and made the argument for increased
Foreign Military Financing (FMF) for Tunisia. McCollum and
Ambassador Godec responded that discussions regarding FMF
funding levels are currently underway in Washington.
Ambassador Godec added that the Defense Attache's Office
(DAO) was waiting for details on the MND equipment needs.
Morjane promised action, and the DAO received a phone call
from the Ministry the next day.


3. (C) The Minister of Development and International
Cooperation Mohamed Nouri Jouini expanded on another common
theme for the GOT: economic development and international
investment. Jouini explained that the GOT subsidizes the
price of some staple products, but is concerned about rising
prices. McCollum concurred, adding that Congress is
concerned about widespread famine in Africa. On a different
note, Jouini opined that Tunisia's free trade agreement with
Europe has helped stimulate investment in Tunisia. The
Ambassador remarked that the Embassy hopes to use Economic
Support Funds (ESF) to promote economic development and good
governance, and added that implementing some of the proposals
developed by the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement
would also stimulate economic growth.


4. (C) Several government officials also made the case that
Tunisia is misunderstood by the international community,
especially when it comes to its human rights track record.
Ossama Romdhani, the Director General of the Tunisian Agency
for External Communication made the strongest pitch
denouncing the recent Amnesty International report, which
claimed Tunisia uses its anti-terrorism campaign as
justification for politically motivated human rights abuses.
He stated that in order to preserve stability Tunisia must
proceed with reforms at its own pace. The Minister of
Foreign Affairs Abdelwaheb Abdallah echoed these sentiments,
criticizing journalists and saying Tunisia was misrepresented
in the international press. (Note: Abdallah was probably
referring to several international NGOs that have issued
press releases calling for the release of journalist Slim
Boukhdhir. Activists claim he was targeted by the government
and sentenced to prison because of several articles he
authored accusing the President's family of corruption. End
Note.)

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Business as Usual
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5. (C) CODEL McCollum met with representatives of several
American companies in Tunisia, both at a lunch hosted by the
Ambassador and at the Embassy's 4th of July reception. Among
the companies CODEL McCollum met with were 3M, General Mills,
HP, Eurocast, Pioneer Natural Resources, and Columbus
Industries. She also met with the President of the
Tunisian-American Chamber of Commerce. The company
representatives expressed that the quality of the Tunisian
work force, together with Tunisia's strategic location,
contributed to its comparative advantage. When asked, they
were hesitant to talk about corruption. Several of the
Tunisian business representatives had been educated in the
United States as the result of USAID scholarships. Noting
this, they made a strong case for increased funding for
exchange programs and a strengthened USG academic scholarship
program.

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Civil Society Makes Its Case
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6. (C) Representative McCollum also met with the current
and former Secretary Generals of the opposition Progressive
Democratic Party (PDP),the Editor-in-Chief of the Arabic
weekly al-Mowqif, a human rights lawyer, and a member of an
unregistered human rights NGO. When asked if American
"branding" of human rights was harmful to democracy
promotion, civil society representatives offered differing
views. Most felt the Tunisian audience could differentiate
between US policies with which they disagree (e.g., US
foreign policy vis-a-vis the Middle East) and those with
which they do (democracy promotion and support for human
rights). One participant representing an opposition party
noted that her party had declined to participate in programs
funded by the Middle East Partnership Initiative, due to
opposition to US actions in Iraq. Most were grateful for USG
support for freedom of expression and freedom of association,
especially in the form of public statements. Indeed, Nejib
Chebbi, the PDP's announced candidate for the 2009
presidential elections, made the case that the USG should
issue a public statement calling for a level playing field
ahead of those elections.


7. (C) McCollum visited several Embassy projects in the
area. The Director of the Parents and Friends of the
Handicapped in Tunisia (APAHT) gave Representative McCollum a
tour of a school for the handicapped whose construction was
paid for by the Department of Defense. Representative
McCollum remarked that she was a former teacher herself, and
she greatly appreciated the efforts of the parents and
teachers. During her visit to the Center of Arab Women for
Training and Research (CAWTAR) Ms. McCollum said she was
impressed by the organization's efforts to promote the
political participation of women in the Middle East and North
Africa. One of CAWTAR's programs was funded by a grant from
the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI); the results of
that project allowed CAWTAR to receive funding for follow up
projects and increase the number of partner institutions in
the region. Lastly, CODEL McCollum visited AMIDEAST to see
Department of State-funded student advising, testing and
other services that promote mutual understanding with Middle
East countries. Through a grant to AMIDEAST Tunis the
Department funds the ACCESS program to teach English to
disadvantaged youth. The Congresswoman also met with a
number of Tunisian students who had participated in
Department of State-funded exchange programs. McCollum
explained to the exchange program participants that by
talking about their experiences with friends and family, they
play an important role as ambassadors for both the United
States and Tunisia.

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Development Banks
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8. (C) CODEL McCollum also met with one of the
Vice-presidents of the African Development Bank, the
President of the African Development Bank, and the Tunisia
Representative of the European Investment Bank. President
Kaberuka of the African Development Bank (ADB) explained that
the ADB is focusing on water and infrastructure projects as
key to future economic growth. Clean water helps lower
infant mortality rates, and frees women from the time
consuming task of searching for fresh water. Representative
McCollum suggested President Kaberuka meet with Members of
Congress the next time he is in Washington, an idea that he
welcomed. CODEL McCollum also met with Diederick Zambon of
the European Investment Bank (EIB). Zambon gave an overview
of the EIB's activities in the region, and stated that
Tunisia compares favorably to Algeria and Libya. With regard
to Algeria, he remarked that he had heard reports of Chinese
companies using Chinese prisoners in its infrastructure
projects. According to Zambon, the workers are restricted to
the project sites, and not allowed contact with foreigners.

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Comment
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9. (C) Tunisians, from both official and unofficial worlds,
warmly welcomed Congresswoman McCollum and Ms. Bennett. We
believe their visit underscored the US interest in Tunisia
and advanced objectives here. End Comment.


10. (U) CODEL McCollum did not have the opportunity to clear
on this cable.
GODEC