TFHA01: GOT CONCERNED BY MISSING SRSG ANNABI, BEN

UNCLAS TUNIS 000025 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO TU SUBJECT: TFHA01: GOT CONCERNED BY MISSING SRSG ANNABI, BEN ALI EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES REF: PORT AU PRINCE 44 Sensitive but Unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) During a January 14 meeting, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Americas Desk Officers Mourad Belhassan and Hatem Landoulsi advised pol-econoffs that the GOT was deeply concerned for the welfare of Hedi Annabi, the distinguished Tunisian Diplomat serving as the Special Representative of the Secretary General at the UN Assistance Mission in Haiti reported missing (reftel),and feared the worst. (Note: The Embassy's UN Contacts in Tunis tell us they also have no confirmation about Annabi at this time. End note.) Belhassan and Landoulsi said they would welcome any further information the USG might be able to provide on Annabi and were unaware of any other official Tunisians in Haiti. ¶2. (SBU) President Ben Ali issued a statement on January 13 expressing Tunisia's condolences and sympathy to the Government and people of Haiti. (Comment: Given Tunisia's modest resources and considerable distance from Haiti, we do not expect the GOT to offer any substantive assistance. End comment.) GRAY