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) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶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. -------------- Many Voices, One Point of View -------------- ¶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.) -------------- Business as Usual -------------- ¶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. -------------- Civil Society Makes Its Case -------------- ¶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. -------------- Development Banks -------------- ¶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. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶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