293. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Bremer) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Clark)1
SUBJECT
- Objectives For the Working Visit of Tunisian Prime Minister Mzali
We propose the following objectives for the working visit of the Tunisian Prime Minister in late April:
1. Reaffirm our traditional friendship for Tunisia and President Bourguiba.
President Bourguiba led Tunisia to independence in 1956 and has dominated it ever since. His personal friendship for the U.S. is largely responsible for Tunisia’s openness to us and the anti-Soviet cast of its foreign policy. The aging President is trying to link his country’s destiny to that of the U.S. before he passes away.
2. Reaffirm our Support for Tunisia’s economic, social, and political development.
Tunisia has had dramatic success in improving the economic and social lot of its people since independence in 1956. The Tunisian government is very concerned that it not have to divert resources from economic to military purposes before the economy has found a stable footing. The US has contributed about $1 billion to economic development since 1956, and is extending $10 million of PL 480 Title I2 in FY 82. Development projects will also continue for several years, although new appropriations ceased in FY 81. Mzali was the architect of elections held last November in which opposition groups were allowed to participate for the first time since independence in 1956.
3. Reaffirm our support for Tunisia’s security.
Relations with Libya deteriorated after an abortive declaration of unity in 1974.3 In 1980, Tunisians trained and backed by Libya attacked the Tunisian city of Gafsa.4 Qadhafi made a state visit to Tunisia in [Page 609] February 1982, resulting in limited rapprochement.5 The Tunisians nevertheless remain wary of Qadhafi and are continuing to build up their neglected military defense. The U.S. formed a Joint Military Commission with Tunisia last year and is extending $85 million in Foreign Military Sales (FMS) credits to Tunisia in FY 82.
4. Encourage Tunisia to continue working for moderation in the Arab-Israeli imbroglio.
Although voting with the Arab bloc in Arab-Israeli matters, Tunisia plays a moderating role behind the scenes within the bloc. It was an early advocate of recognizing Israel’s right to exist and it refuses to attend the meetings of the extremist Steadfastness Front.6 Privately, Tunisia welcomed Sadat’s initiative to bring peace to the Middle East. As the provisional seat of the Arab League, Tunisia is in a position to exert a moderating influence out of proportion to its small size.
5. Encourage Tunisia to continue its moderation in the Non-Aligned Movement, the United Nations, the OAU, and other international forums.
Tunisia is one of the more temperate non-aligned countries. It was of great help to us during its term on the UN Security Council in 1980 and 1981. It cast the decisive vote for sanctions against Iran during the hostage crisis and voted to condemn the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, for example. Last year it entered a reservation to the unhelpful Non-Aligned declaration on Puerto Rico and did not participate in the drafting of the hostile UN communique of the Non-Aligned Movement.7 We expect Tunisia to be helpful in managing the planning for the OAU Summit in Tripoli, and will want to consult closely with Mzali on this issue.
- Source: Reagan Library, Geoffrey T.H. Kemp Files, Subject File, Tunisia 1982 (February–March 1982). Confidential.↩
- Title I refers to concessional sales of agricultural commodities in U.S. dollars with a generous repayment scheme.↩
- See Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. E–9, Documents on North Africa, 1973–1976, Document 120.↩
- See footnote 2, Document 288.↩
- Reference is to anti-Israel movement created by the PLO, Libya, Algeria, Syria, and Yemen in 1977 after Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s visit to Israel. The Front also rejected UNSC Resolutions 242 and 338.↩
- In telegram 2269 from Tunis, March 25, the Embassy informed the Department that the Tunisian Government had instructed its Ambassador in New Delhi to register its reservation to the Puerto Rican portion of the communiqué issued by the NAM at its Ministerial Conference in New Delhi. The communiqué called for Puerto Rican self-determination and independence from the United States. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D810141–0657)↩
- In telegram 4615 from the USUN, December 11, 1981, the Mission reported that Tunisia, along with 15 other nations, had voted against a “tendentious draft” NAM communiqué “on ‘threats’ to Nicaragua” from the United States. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D810601–0309, D810589–0120)↩
- Deputy Executive Secretary Alvin Adams signed for Bremer above this typed signature.↩