KUDOS TO EMBASSY TUNIS FOR REPORTING

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 025395 SIPDIS FOR AMBASSADOR GODEC FROM NEA ACTING A/S FELTMAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2019 TAGS: AMGT TS SUBJECT: KUDOS TO EMBASSY TUNIS FOR REPORTING REF: A. 08 TUNIS 1030 ¶B. 08 TUNIS 1135 ¶C. 08 TUNIS 1192 ¶D. 08 TUNIS 1193 ¶E. 08 TUNIS 1238 ¶F. 08 TUNIS 1256 ¶G. 09 TUNIS 1 ¶H. 09 TUNIS 2 ¶I. 09 TUNIS 10 ¶J. 09 TUNIS 14 ¶K. 09 TUNIS 41 ¶L. 09 TUNIS 64 ¶M. 09 TUNIS 99 ¶N. 09 TUNIS 109 ¶O. 09 TUNIS 149 Classified By: Classified By: NEA Acting A/S Jeffrey Feltman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Bob: I want to take the opportunity to thank you and your staff for Post,s first-rate reporting, insights, and recommendations. Your comprehensive understanding of Government of Tunisia (GOT) redlines and areas of contention has helped Washington to navigate the politically challenging waters and ensure continued U.S. engagement. Embassy Tunis,s outstanding cultural, political, and economic reporting, despite severe restrictions on access to GOT officials and civil society, is a testament to your ingenuity, dedication, and perseverance. ================ POLITICAL ISSUES ================ ¶2. (SBU) FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION (OR LACK THEREOF): Post has consistently looked for--and found--creative solutions to limited access to GOT officials and civil society. A case in point is 09 Tunis 99, which catalogues the growing relevancy of Facebook to an embittered youth population which sees few opportunities for open political and social debate. Your ability to illuminate the struggles of Tunisia,s beleaguered civil society has influenced discussions in Washington about how best to promote democratic governance and human rights, both in country and across the Middle East. ¶3. (SBU) HUMAN RIGHTS: Post,s detailed descriptions of human rights violations relating to the protests in the mining region of Gafsa in 08 Tunis 1238 provided Washington with insight into the underlying instability of the Gafsa region and the regime,s intolerance of criticism. 09 Tunis 64 demonstrated Post,s deep knowledge of the challenges and choices facing Tunisian journalists. Human rights reporting in an environment as hostile as Tunisia can be a major challenge--a challenge to which Post has risen time and time again, enabling the Department to understand the severity of the problem. ¶4. (C) INTERNAL POLITICS: Your insights into the political climate in Tunisia, from the restrictions opposition parties face (08 Tunis 1192) to a nuanced analysis of Ben Ali succession dynamics (09 Tunis 109),highlight Post,s ability to expose and explain an opaque and authoritarian system. =============== ECONOMIC ISSUES =============== ¶5. (SBU) Your consistently excellent reporting on economic issues in Tunisia, from insights into the tourism sector (08 Tunis 1030) to an explanation of prospects for civil nuclear energy (08 Tunis 1193),has provided NEA, EEB, and the interagency with valuable information about the state of economic and investment affairs in Tunisia. This reporting has influenced discussion about ways to possibly increase economic cooperation with Tunisia. =============== CULTURAL ISSUES =============== ¶6. (SBU) Throughout the rejection of our nine 2008 Fulbright Scholars, you provided us with insightful and thorough reporting on the situation and presented cogent recommendations to resolve it. Your reporting and consultations were the foundation for Washington,s approach to the matter, and helped lead to the reinstatement of four American Fulbright Scholars. ============================================= CARE FOR AND DEDICATION TO AMERICAN CITIZENS ============================================= ¶7. (SBU) Embassy Tunis,s reporting on the challenges facing the American Cooperative School in Tunis (08 Tunis 1135, 09 Tunis 1, 09 Tunis 149) showcases your commitment to protect the interests and needs of American citizens in Tunisia and to marshal Washington,s support for Post,s efforts through reinforcement of USG concerns with Tunisian interlocutors here. =============== GAZA REPORTING =============== ¶8. (C) In December 2008 and January 2009, 08 Tunis 1256, 09 Tunis 2, 09 Tunis 10, 09 Tunis 14, and 09 Tunis 41 provided Washington with timely, detailed insights into the impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the "Tunisian street" in addition to reactions from GOT officials, opposition leaders, and members of civil society. Washington was closely monitoring Arab reactions to the events in Gaza and southern Israel, and Post,s portrait of the impact on Tunisian citizens provided a good sense of the powerful emotions generated by the conflict. Regards, Jeff CLINTON