Excerpt from document summary
(S/NF) Representative Michael Conaway (R-TX) and Tunisian
Foreign Minister Abdelwaheb Abdallah discussed intelligence
cooperation, the Middle East peace process, and bilateral
trade, investment, and assistance during a December 19
meeting.

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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTU #0920 3551518
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 211518Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7084
INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE
Content
S E C R E T TUNIS 000920

NOFORN
SIPDIS

H - PLEASE PASS TO CODEL CONAWAY; ALSO FOR NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2019
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KDEM, OREP (CONAWAY, MICHAEL), TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIA: CODEL CONAWAY RAISES INTELLIGENCE
COOPERATION AND MIDDLE EAST PEACE WITH FOREIGN MINISTER

Classified by Ambassador Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).

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Summary
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1. (S/NF) Representative Michael Conaway (R-TX) and Tunisian
Foreign Minister Abdelwaheb Abdallah discussed intelligence
cooperation, the Middle East peace process, and bilateral
trade, investment, and assistance during a December 19
meeting. Abdallah indicated his willingness to discuss U.S.
concerns over intelligence cooperation and expressed his
appreciation for additional military assistance in the FY
2010 budget. He criticized the Israeli position on Middle
East peace and highlighted Tunisia's moderate stance. End
summary.

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Intelligence Cooperation
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2. (S/NF) Representative Michael Conaway (R-TX) met with
Tunisian Foreign Minister Abdallah and Defense Minister Kemal
Morjane (septel) the morning of December 19. Recalling the
importance of the U.S.-Tunisia relationship, Rep. Conaway
explained to Minister Abdallah that the main purpose of his
visit was to discuss bilateral intelligence cooperation. As
a member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,
Rep. Conaway stressed the importance of working together
against Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups. Abdallah
replied that Tunisia and the United States cooperate well on
intelligence, a very important issue for President Ben Ali,
and suggested that he was open to discussing any problems in
this area. Ambassador Gray indicated to Abdallah that he
would like an opportunity to meet with him separately to
raise U.S. concerns on intelligence cooperation. (That
meeting took place on December 21 and is being reported in
separate channels.)

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Middle East Peace
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3. (C) Rep. Conaway urged Minister Abdallah to leverage
Tunisia's influence with the Israeli and Palestinian sides to
advocate a peaceful solution to the long-running conflict.
Abdallah replied that progress on Middle East peace was held
back by the "intransigent" attitude of the Israeli
government. He indicated that in his recent meeting with a
delegation from the American Jewish Committee, he had
underlined the need for the Israeli side to make a gesture to
advance progress toward talks. Abdallah opined that the
recent European Union declaration was a positive step, but
that it was still necessary to push the Israeli government to
stop settlement activity and to begin negotiations. Abdallah
praised the role of Special Envoy Mitchell but said that
Tunisia could not agree to his request to normalize relations
with Israel in the current context, as doing so would go
against public opinion in the Arab world and in Tunisia
itself. Abdallah stressed, however, his confidence in
President Obama, Secretary Clinton, and in the vision of the
President's Cairo speech, and pledged to use Tunisia's
"privileged" relationship with the Palestinians to support
the peace process.

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Bilateral Relations
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4. (C) Rep. Conaway said he hoped to see an increase in trade
and tourism, and promised to promote awareness of Tunisia in
the Congress. Abdallah noted the potential for an Open Skies
agreement and other means to promote bilateral trade and
tourism. He thanked Rep. Conaway for the increased military
assistance figures in the FY 2010 budget, noting the positive
spirit of cooperation implied by the new figure. Signaling
an expected drop in FMF levels in 2011, Rep. Conaway replied
that with a growing public debt, the United States may not be
able to continue to maintain these levels in all areas in
future years.

5. (U) Representative Conaway did not have the opportunity
to clear this message before leaving Tunis.

GRAY