Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TUNIS859
2009-11-23 15:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tunis
Cable title:
BEN ALI ILLNESS PROMPTS CANCELLATION OF SPANISH
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHTU #0859 3271557 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 231557Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7001 INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000859
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR TS
SUBJECT: BEN ALI ILLNESS PROMPTS CANCELLATION OF SPANISH
ROYAL VISIT
REF: TUNIS 849
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 000859
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR TS
SUBJECT: BEN ALI ILLNESS PROMPTS CANCELLATION OF SPANISH
ROYAL VISIT
REF: TUNIS 849
Classified by Ambassador Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) TAP, Tunisia's official press agency, announced on the
morning of November 23 that President Ben Ali was suffering
from a throat infection and that his doctors had ordered five
days of rest. The Spanish Embassy confirmed to us later on
November 23 that the visit of King Juan Carlos, who was
supposed to arrive in Tunis on November 24 for a state visit,
had been indefinitely postponed.
2. (C) Ben Ali has made a number of public appearances
recently: On November 22, he watered a newly planted olive
tree in a ceremony marking Tunisia's Arbor Day. Last week,
he participated in the World Summit on Food Security in Rome
and then presided at a credentialing ceremony for new
Ambassadors on November 19. At that event, as reported
reftel, we had the opportunity to view the President at close
range and he appeared (to our non-medically trained eyes)
generally healthy.
3. (C) Comment: We expect the announcement of the illness,
and the cancellation of the royal visit, will put the rumor
mills, which are constantly preoccupied with (usually ill
sourced and dramatic) stories of the president's health, into
overdrive. End comment.
GRAY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR TS
SUBJECT: BEN ALI ILLNESS PROMPTS CANCELLATION OF SPANISH
ROYAL VISIT
REF: TUNIS 849
Classified by Ambassador Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) TAP, Tunisia's official press agency, announced on the
morning of November 23 that President Ben Ali was suffering
from a throat infection and that his doctors had ordered five
days of rest. The Spanish Embassy confirmed to us later on
November 23 that the visit of King Juan Carlos, who was
supposed to arrive in Tunis on November 24 for a state visit,
had been indefinitely postponed.
2. (C) Ben Ali has made a number of public appearances
recently: On November 22, he watered a newly planted olive
tree in a ceremony marking Tunisia's Arbor Day. Last week,
he participated in the World Summit on Food Security in Rome
and then presided at a credentialing ceremony for new
Ambassadors on November 19. At that event, as reported
reftel, we had the opportunity to view the President at close
range and he appeared (to our non-medically trained eyes)
generally healthy.
3. (C) Comment: We expect the announcement of the illness,
and the cancellation of the royal visit, will put the rumor
mills, which are constantly preoccupied with (usually ill
sourced and dramatic) stories of the president's health, into
overdrive. End comment.
GRAY