Wikileaks “arabi”: Tunisi (da al-Akhbar)

Excerpt from document summaryThe Government of Tunisia (GOT) prohibits demonstrations that
are not pre-approved and is capable of controlling and
dispersing one in the unlikely event one could be mustered
without their knowledge. The only known group capable of
implementing this type of demonstration would be the Tunisian
labor union UGTT. تتمة

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(S/NF) In back-to-back meetings at the Foreign Ministry
today the Ambassador was given a letter from Foreign Minister
Abdallah to NEA AA/S Feltman offering negotiations to resolve
the American Cooperative School in Tunis (ACST) tax issue.
The letter emphasized that the GOT wants to maintain friendly
relations with the United States and views the school tax
issue as a technical, fiscal matter. تتمة

Excerpt from document summary
(C) The May 11-13 US-Tunisian Joint Military Commission
(JMC) saw productive exchanges on a variety of topics
relating to bilateral military cooperation. The Tunisians
were more forthcoming than they have been in recent years
about their priorities with respect to military assistance
needs تتمة

Excerpt from document summary
S/NF) Sakhr El-Matri President Ben Ali’s son-in-law
attended a reception hosted by the Ambassador May 26. He
stayed for two hours talking with a wide variety of the
guests, especially the Americans. تتمة

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(S/NF) The International Red Cross Committee Regional
(ICRC) Delegate Yves Arnoldy told the Ambassador ICRC
priorities in Tunisia are overcrowding in general and
treatment of prisoners in MOI facilities. The ICRC has a good
working relationship with the Ministry of Justice, but the
Ministry of Interior will take more time. تتمة

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(S/NF) A senior MFA official convoked the German, Italian
and Spanish Chiefs of Mission June 19 to inform them the GOT
wants the Tunisian detainees in Guantanamo Camp returned
home. According to the European COMs, the implicit message
was that their governments should not accept the US request
to take Tunisian detainees. تتمة

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(C/NF) What was to be a routine Elective General Assembly
for the Tunisian-American Chamber of Commerce turned out to
be less so when TACC’s President, Mondher Ben Ayed, announced
he was not running for re-election. تتمة

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(S/NF) The International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) Tunisian Coordinator for Regional Protection Francesco
Bruscoli (strictly protect) informed acting P/E Counselor
July 14 on the margins of a reception that the ICRC had
recently visited the two former Guantanamo detainees
imprisoned in Tunisia. تتمة

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(S/NF) By many measures, Tunisia should be a close US
ally. But it is not. While we share some key values and the
country has a strong record on development, Tunisia has big
problems. President Ben Ali is aging, his regime is
sclerotic and there is no clear successor. تتمة

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(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. تتمة

Excerpt from document summary
C) The main feature of President Ben Ali’s January 14
shuffle of his cabinet is continuity, combined with an
apparent intent to recalibrate (to what extent remains
unclear) Tunisia’s relationship with the U.S., which has
stagnated in recent years. تتمة

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(C) In the course of a February 8 courtesy call on
newly-appointed Defense Minister Grira, the Ambassador
reviewed the historically close cooperation between
the U.S. and Tunisian militaries; stressed the need to
expand military engagement and cooperation in light
of the threat posed by terrorism and especially AQIM تتمة

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(S) In the latest in a long string of questionable
business deals, the Ben Ali clan has recently entered the
banking business, assuming leadership of Tunisia’s most
profitable private bank — Banque de Tunisie (BT). In April,
Alya Abdallah, wife of Foreign Minister Abdalwahab Abdallah,
became President of BT تتمة

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(C) Madame Secretary, my team and I look forward to your
visit to Tunis. President Ben Ali and Foreign Minister
Abdallah are delighted you are coming and will provide a warm
welcome. They will want to hear your thoughts on regional
issues and to reaffirm strong US-Tunisian relations. تتمة

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(C) Nineteen Tunisians have been convicted of varying
degrees of involvement in terror planning in two separate
trials in the past two weeks. One of the defense attorneys
who represented clients in both cases offered his assessment
that a few of those convicted had indeed intended to carry
out attacks in Tunisia. تتمة

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(S/NF) Over the last two years, GOT officials have said
Guantanamo detainees transferred to Tunisia will not be
tortured or mistreated. President Ben Ali reiterated this
“promise” to the Secretary in September. تتمة

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(S/NF) Mohamed Sakhr El-Matri, the President’s
son-in-law, is viewed by many as a possible successor to
President Ben Ali. Ref B reported his election to the ruling
Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD) party’s Central
Committee in July 2008. تتمة

Excerpt from document summary
(S/NF) Mohamed Sakhr El-Matri, the President’s
son-in-law, is viewed by many as a possible successor to
President Ben Ali. Ref B reported his election to the ruling
Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD) party’s Central
Committee in July 2008. تتمة