Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TUNIS775
2009-10-19 17:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tunis
Cable title:  

TUNISIAN MFA PIQUED AT SOURCING OF TIP REPORT, BUT

Tags:  PHUM KTIP KWMN AORC TS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTU #0775 2921717
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 191717Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6894
INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000775 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP AND NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2019
TAGS: PHUM KTIP KWMN AORC TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIAN MFA PIQUED AT SOURCING OF TIP REPORT, BUT
READY TO TALK

REF: A. TUNIS 758

B. STATE 104684

Classified by Ambassador Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000775

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP AND NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2019
TAGS: PHUM KTIP KWMN AORC TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIAN MFA PIQUED AT SOURCING OF TIP REPORT, BUT
READY TO TALK

REF: A. TUNIS 758

B. STATE 104684

Classified by Ambassador Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (C) During an otherwise cordial courtesy call on October
13, Saida Chtoui, Secretary of State for Asia and the
Americas (one of two deputies to Foreign Minister Abdallah )
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, complained to the
Ambassador about Tunisia's placement on the Trafficking in
Persons Report's Tier II Watchlist. "We do not like reports
that are not right," she exclaimed. Chtoui asserted that a
GOT ad hoc interagency committee working in 2008 had provided
the USG with a cache of data and facts that had been
"completely ignored" in the Department's final product.
Chtoui charged that allegations printed in the report were
undocumented, such as a story about the trafficking of a
seven year old sourced to a journalist based in the
Netherlands. (Note: Our subsequent review of the report
found no such reference. End note.)


2. (C) Responding, the Ambassador underlined the need for a
substantive bilateral dialogue that would allow both sides to
clear up misunderstandings and put the USG and Tunisia
squarely on the same page in the global fight against human
trafficking. If the Tunisian government is regularly
prosecuting traffickers and making systematic efforts to
identify and assist victims, we want to convey the details to
Washington and make sure the authors of the report are fully
briefed. Establishing a substantive dialogue is the key, the
Ambassador repeated.


3. (C) Chtoui again emphasized the GOT's disappointment with
the report's "totally unfair" findings. "Our record of
caring for our children, for our women, for the elderly, can
be compared to that of the world's most developed countries,"
she underlined. "We know we are not perfect," but Tunisia has
a higher awareness and makes greater efforts than any of its
neighbors in this regard, Chtoui maintained.


4. (C) Referencing his October 5 discussion with the Minister
of Justice (ref A),the Ambassador said the Embassy would be
seeking a meeting with a senior MOJ official named as a POC
on the TIP issue and hoped the MFA would support and
collaborate in a new round of dialogue. "If we have an
understanding that we are working together without
preconceived ideas and judgments," then the MFA will support
more dialogue, Chtoui allowed.


GRAY