PRESIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE

UNCLAS STATE 393879 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE E.O. 12356: N/A TAGS: OPDC TS SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE ¶1. ON DECEMBER 11 THE TUNISIAN EMBASSY TRANSMITTED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT BEN ALI TO PRESIDENT REAGAN: . BEGIN TEXT: THE WASHINGTON SIGNING OF THE TREATY FOR THE DISMANTLING OF THE INTERMEDIATE MISSILES PROVIDES ME AN OCCASION TO SEND YOU MY HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS FOR THIS HISTORIC ACT WHICH WITHOUT A DOUBT WILL BE A LANDMARK ON THE ROAD TO NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT. THIS ACCORD COULD HAVE COME ABOUT THANKS ONLY TO YOUR POLITICAL COURAGE, YOUR KEEN SENSE OF RESPONSIBLITY AND YOUR DETERMINATION TO WRITE A NEW PAGE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 STATE 393879 IN THIS HISTORY OF MANKIND. I CARRY THE HOPE THAT YOU WILL OVERCOME ALL OBSTACLES IN ORDER TO BANISH THE SPECTOR OF WAR AND CONFRONTATION IN THE WORLD AND TO PRESERVE FUTURE GENERATIONS FROM DESTRUCTION. MAY THIS DOCUMENT CONTRIBUTE TO TURNING THE PAGE OF THE PAST AND TO OPENING A NEW ERA IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FOUNDED CHIEFLY ON COOPERATION, SOLIDARITY, AND DIALOGUE. PLEASE ACCEPT, MR. PRESIDENT, THE ASSURANCES OF MY HIGHEST ESTEEM. ZINE EL ABIDINE BEN ALI, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA. END TEXT. ¶2. PLEASE TRANSMIT FOLLOWING MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT REAGAN TO PRESIDENT BEN ALI AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY: BEGIN TEXT: DEAR MR. PRESIDENT, I GREATLY APPRECIATE RECEIVING YOUR KIND NOTE CONGRATULATING ME ON THE SUCCESSFUL SUMMIT WITH SOVIET GENERAL SECRETARY GORBACHEV. WE BELIEVE THOSE MEETINGS INDEED MARK A HISTORIC MOMENT IN ADVANCING INTERNATIONAL SECURITY, AS WELL AS IN ESTABLISHING A MORE STABLE AND CONSTRUCTIVE US RELATIONSHIP. THE INF TREATY THAT I SIGNED WITH THE GENERAL SECRETARY IS CLEARLY A LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENT: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY OUR TWO NATIONS HAVE AGREED TO REDUCE OUR NUCLEAR ARSENALS, NOT JUST LIMIT THEIR GROWTH. AND THERE IS THE PROMISE OF STILL GREATER PROGRESS IN PLACING EAST-WEST RELATIONS ON A SOUNDER FOOTING. MY TALKS WITH GORBACHEV WERE QUITE FRANK AND CANDID -- NEITHER OF US ATTEMPTED TO MASK OUR DISAGREEMENTS. THE GENERAL SECRETARY UNDERSTANDS THAT IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR RELATIONSHIP CAN RESULT ONLY IF WE SERIOUSLY ADDRESS THE ENTIRE FOUR-PART AGENDA: HUMAN RIGHTS, REGIONAL CONCERNS, BILATERAL MATTERS AND ARMS REDUCTIONS. WE HAD A FRANK AND VERY LIVELY EXCHANGE ON ALL OF THESE ISSUES, AND WHILE WE DID NOT MAKE BREAKTHROUGHS IN EVERY AREA, I AM ENCOURAGED BY THE SERIOUSNESS WITH WHICH GORBACHEV IS CONSIDERING OUR POINT OF VIEW. BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR. SINCERELY, RONALD REAGAN END TEXT. ¶3. DEPARTMENT HAS NO INTENTION OF RELEASING TEXT BUT HAS NO OBJECTION SHOULD GOT CHOOSE TO DO SO. WHITEHEAD