CODEL LYNCH ENGAGES TUNISIAN MFA ON INTERNET

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000084 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2020 TAGS: ECON OREP PGOV PHUM PREL PTER MASS KTFN TS SUBJECT: CODEL LYNCH ENGAGES TUNISIAN MFA ON INTERNET FREEDOM REF: A. TUNIS 65 ¶B. TUNIS 61 ¶C. STATE 7244 Classified by Ambassador Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) A congressional delegation led by Representative Stephen Lynch (D-MA) and including Representatives Joe Donnelly (D-IN),Betty Sutton (D-OH),Bob Inglis (R-SC),and Todd Platts (D-PA) visited Tunisia January 31 - February 2. In a February 1 meeting with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary of State (Deputy Minister equivalent) Saida Chtioui, the delegation pressed for freedom of expression and defended the role of independent media. While recognizing Tunisia's legitimate security concerns, the delegation highlighted the importance of information freedom, both as an ingredient of economic growth and as a forum for discussing national issues. The delegation also discussed bilateral assistance, trade relations, and terrorism. End summary. -------------- Tunisia Boasts of Its Success -------------- ¶2. (C) Chtioui opened the meeting by reading a prepared statement enumerating Tunisia's social, political, and economic accomplishments since the beginning of Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali's presidency on November 7, 1987. She highlighted the Government of Tunisia's (GOT's) success in delivering security, education, health care, infrastructure, and other services to its citizens, with a particular emphasis on women and the poor. She said the GOT had a strong commitment to democratic pluralism and the rule of law, with rising numbers of women in government and 25 percent of the legislature reserved for the opposition, and she asserted that there are no political prisoners in Tunisia. -------------- Praise for Bilateral Cooperation -------------- ¶3. (C) Chtioui highlighted the shared values of the U.S.-Tunisia relationship and indicated Tunisia's priority areas for continued bilateral engagement. She said the GOT wished to deepen the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) process and eventually move toward a free trade agreement. She expressed appreciation for U.S. security and counterterrorism assistance, making special mention of a recent program funded through Section 1206 authority. ¶4. (C) Representative Lynch thanked Chtioui for Tunisia's donation of one million dollars in assistance to Haiti, and expressed condolences for the loss of Tunisian diplomat Hedi Annabi in the Haiti earthquake. He praised Tunisia's cooperation on anti-terrorist financing efforts and characterized Tunisia as a leader in promoting women's rights. Representatives Platts, Sutton, Inglis, and Donnelly echoed Lynch's praise, referring to Tunisia as a strong partner and an "island of stability." -------------- Engaging on Press and Internet Freedom -------------- ¶5. (C) Chtioui defended the GOT's policies on Internet censorship, arguing that Tunisia was promoting broad access to internet communication technologies while seeking to minimize the influence of "fanatics, extremists, and terrorists." She told the delegation that "we look forward to your support in removing Tunisia from the list of countries blocking the Internet." ¶6. (C) Representative Lynch responded that while Tunisia's security concerns are understandable, its policies could put its economy at a disadvantage in terms of attracting foreign investment. Internet freedom, he said, was "the currency of the new, knowledge-based economy" and was essential to economic growth. Representative Inglis added that the news media was an essential forum for promoting dialogue on the key issues facing the country. ¶7. (C) Chtioui replied that the GOT does not block commercial or scientific websites, but only "temporarily" denies access to certain sites that the GOT judges to be inciting violence or "systematically destroying the actions of the government." On the media, Chtioui said the GOT had demonstrated its support for independent media by subsidizing opposition political party newspapers. She stressed that these papers should engage in "constructive criticism" and suggested that Tunisian journalists should be trained in the United States. -------------- Discussing the Root Causes of Terrorism -------------- ¶8. (C) Prompted by a question by Representative Inglis, Chtioui argued that terrorism is a result of despair, hopelessness, and ignorance. She tied the question to the GOT's development policies, arguing that the GOT is addressing the root causes of terrorism by providing services, shelter, and economic opportunity to the Tunisian population. ¶9. (C) Representative Inglis also asked Chtioui to characterize Tunisian perceptions of the United States, with an emphasis on perceived shortcomings. Chtioui replied that Tunisians generally view the United States as biased toward Israel and against the Palestinian people, though she noted a possible shift in the U.S. approach following the President's Cairo speech. She added that Tunisia has a balanced approach toward Middle East peace and enjoyed diplomatic relations with Israel until the second Intifada in 2000. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶10. (C) Chtioui's comments to the delegation on Internet and media freedom are consistent with what she has told the Embassy and other USG interlocutors: that GOT restrictions are purely defensive and are intended to counter extremists, terrorists, and self-serving political attackers. She admitted no contradiction between these restrictions and what she terms the GOT's continued progress on democracy, pluralism, and the rule of law. As with the recent visit of NEA DAS Tamara Wittes (ref B),CODEL Lynch's discussion with the MFA has lent additional support to a key pillar of the Embassy's ongoing bilateral dialogue. End comment. ¶11. (U) Codel Lynch did not have an opportunity to clear this cable. GRAY