Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10TUNIS66
2010-01-27 17:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tunis
Cable title:
SENIOR TUNISIAN OFFICIALS ON MIDDLE EAST PEACE,
how-toVZCZCXRO9618 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHTU #0066 0271702 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 271702Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7209 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000066
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2020
TAGS: PREL KPAL IS IZ TS
SUBJECT: SENIOR TUNISIAN OFFICIALS ON MIDDLE EAST PEACE,
IRAQ
REF: A. 09 TUNIS 744
B. 09 TUNIS 688
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 000066
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2020
TAGS: PREL KPAL IS IZ TS
SUBJECT: SENIOR TUNISIAN OFFICIALS ON MIDDLE EAST PEACE,
IRAQ
REF: A. 09 TUNIS 744
B. 09 TUNIS 688
Classified by Ambassador Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
1. (C) In a January 26 courtesy call on Abdelhafidh El
Herguem, Secretary of State for Arab and African Affairs at
the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ambassador
highlighted the USG's sustained efforts to revive Middle East
peace talks. El Herguem said that Tunisia was closely
following Special Envoy Mitchell's recent travels in the
region. He repeated the standard Tunisian position that
Israel needed to freeze settlement construction. The
Ambassador pressed El Herguem to use Tunisia's influence with
Palestinian Authority President Abbas to push for a return to
negotiations.
2. (C) In a separate January 26 meeting, Tunisian MFA
Secretary of State for Asia and the Americas, Saida Chtoui,
told DAS Sanderson "you can rely on us" for support on the
Middle East peace process. "We can influence the
Palestinians," she asserted, "President Abbas often comes to
Tunis and usually listens to President Ben Ali's good
advice." The Ambassador opined that Abbas needs to hear
encouragement from Arab colleagues to resume negotiations,
even if his demand for an Israeli settlement freeze,
supported by the USG, has not been fulfilled.
3. (C) In his conversation with El Herguem, the Ambassador
encouraged Tunisia to begin planning for confidence-building
measures the GOT could take once negotiations recommence; he
cited participation in multilateral working groups and
reestablishment of Tunisia's presence in Tel Aviv as two
examples. El Herguem took these suggestions on board but
offered no substantive comment.
4. (C) With El Herguem, the Ambassador also broached
Tunisia's relations with Iraq, noting that Tunisia had
maintained a continuous diplomatic presence in Baghdad. El
Herguem replied that Tunisia was following the run up to the
March 7 national elections with great interest, and he agreed
with the Ambassador that it was important to continue the
process of integrating Iraq into the Arab world. The
Ambassador asked whether Tunisia had plans to make a
statement on the March 7 elections or to send observers; El
Herguem demurred.
GRAY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2020
TAGS: PREL KPAL IS IZ TS
SUBJECT: SENIOR TUNISIAN OFFICIALS ON MIDDLE EAST PEACE,
IRAQ
REF: A. 09 TUNIS 744
B. 09 TUNIS 688
Classified by Ambassador Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
1. (C) In a January 26 courtesy call on Abdelhafidh El
Herguem, Secretary of State for Arab and African Affairs at
the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ambassador
highlighted the USG's sustained efforts to revive Middle East
peace talks. El Herguem said that Tunisia was closely
following Special Envoy Mitchell's recent travels in the
region. He repeated the standard Tunisian position that
Israel needed to freeze settlement construction. The
Ambassador pressed El Herguem to use Tunisia's influence with
Palestinian Authority President Abbas to push for a return to
negotiations.
2. (C) In a separate January 26 meeting, Tunisian MFA
Secretary of State for Asia and the Americas, Saida Chtoui,
told DAS Sanderson "you can rely on us" for support on the
Middle East peace process. "We can influence the
Palestinians," she asserted, "President Abbas often comes to
Tunis and usually listens to President Ben Ali's good
advice." The Ambassador opined that Abbas needs to hear
encouragement from Arab colleagues to resume negotiations,
even if his demand for an Israeli settlement freeze,
supported by the USG, has not been fulfilled.
3. (C) In his conversation with El Herguem, the Ambassador
encouraged Tunisia to begin planning for confidence-building
measures the GOT could take once negotiations recommence; he
cited participation in multilateral working groups and
reestablishment of Tunisia's presence in Tel Aviv as two
examples. El Herguem took these suggestions on board but
offered no substantive comment.
4. (C) With El Herguem, the Ambassador also broached
Tunisia's relations with Iraq, noting that Tunisia had
maintained a continuous diplomatic presence in Baghdad. El
Herguem replied that Tunisia was following the run up to the
March 7 national elections with great interest, and he agreed
with the Ambassador that it was important to continue the
process of integrating Iraq into the Arab world. The
Ambassador asked whether Tunisia had plans to make a
statement on the March 7 elections or to send observers; El
Herguem demurred.
GRAY