Cablegate: Ben Ali Letter to Clinton

R 101331Z JAN 95
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8868

UNCLAS TUNIS 000139

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PREL KWBG ECON TS
SUBJECT: BEN ALI LETTER TO CLINTON

1. IN A JANUARY 9 MEETING WITH MFA DIRECTOR GENERAL
FOR AMERICAS AFFAIRS AHMED OUNIAES, POLCOUNS WAS
GIVEN A LETTER FROM PRESIDENT BEN ALI TO PRESIDENT
CLINTON. THE TUNISIAN ENGLISH TRANSLATION FOLLOWS.
THE ORIGINAL TEXT (ARABIC AND ENGLISH TRANSLATION)
WILL BE FORWARDED VIA POUCH TO NEA/MAG.

2. BEGIN TEXT:

I RECEIVED WITH GREAT PLEASURE YOUR LETTER DATED 29
NOVEMBER 1994, IN WHICH YOU INFORMED ME OF THE UNITED
STATES' PROPOSAL TO INVITE THE PARTIES TO THE MIDDLE
EAST PROCESS TO A MEETING TO BE HELD IN WASHINGTON ON
10-11 JANUARY 1995, AS A FOLLOW UP TO THE
DISCUSSIONS INITIATED AT THE RECENT CASABLANCA
ECONOMIC SUMMIT, WITH THE AIM OF SETTING UP A
REGIONAL BANK FOR DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE
MIDDLE EAST.

HAVING STEADFASTLY SUPPORTED THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE
PROCESS AT EVERY STAGE AND HAVING CONTRIBUTED TO
EFFORTS AIMED AT BUILDING MUTUAL CONFIDENCE AND
CONCORD BETWEEN THE PARTIES CONCERNED AND PROMOTING
AN AREA OF STABILITY AND PEACE, TUNISIA APPRECIATES
THE INITIATIVE OF CREATING THIS FINANCIAL
INSTITUTION. WE BELIEVE THIS WILL BE AN IMPORTANT
STEP IN THE FULFILLMENT OF OUR AIMS: THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW REGIONAL ORDER IN THE MIDDLE
EAST AND THE ARAB MAGHREB BASED ON COOPERATION AND
THE PARTICIPATION OF ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE REGION IN
THEIR EFFORTS FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT.

WHILE SUPPORTING AND SETTING UP A REGIONAL BANK FOR
DEVELOPMENT AND EXPRESSING OUR READINESS TO
CONTRIBUTE EFFECTIVELY TO THE REALIZATION OF THIS
PROJECT, WE WELCOME THE INVITATION OF TUNISIA BY THE
UNITED STATES TO THE AFOREMENTIONED PREPARATORY
WASHINGTON MEETING. TUNISIA WILL BE REPRESENTED BY
TWO OF ITS HIGH OFFICIALS WHO WILL PARTICIPATE IN
EXAMINING POLITICAL AND TECHNICAL ISSUES RELATED TO
THE CREATION OF THE INSTITUTION.

HAVING PUT FORWARD A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES AIMED AT
PROMOTING THE PEACE PROCESS AND ANXIOUS TO PURSUE ITS
ACTIVE ROLE IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF GAZA AND JERICHO
AND THE REGION AS A WHOLE AND IN BRINGING THE
NORMALIZATION PROCESS BETWEEN THE ARAB COUNTRIES AND
ISRAEL TO MATURITY, TUNISIA IS DETERMINED TO
CONTRIBUTE IN ESTABLISHING THE STRUCTURES AND
NECESSARY MECHANISMS TO SET UP A NEW REGIONAL ORDER
WHICH WILL HASTEN THE CONCLUSION OF THE PEACE PROCESS
AND PUT AN END TO THE VICIOUS CIRCLE OF VIOLENCE AND
TERRORISM AS WELL AS ALL SOURCES OF CONFRONTATION IN
THE MIDDLE EAST; THUS ALLOWING FOR GREATER EFFORTS IN
FAVOR OF DEVELOPMENT.

WHILE PREPARING FOR THE WASHINGTON MEETING WHICH WILL
PRESENT US WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXCHANGE VIEWS AND
HAVE MORE DETAILED DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE VARIOUS
TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THIS PROJECT, TUNISIA EXPRESSES
THE HOPE THAT THIS BANK WILL PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN
ASSISTING THE COUNTRIES OF THE REGION IN PROMOTING
INVESTMENTS AND INCREASING PRODUCTION.

ALL PEACE LOVING COUNTRIES AS WELL AS INTERNATIONAL
AND REGIONAL FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC INSTITUTIONS
SHOULD TAKE IT UPON THEMSELVES TO SUPPORT INITIATIVES
FOR DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION TO ANCHOR PEACE
THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SECURITY, STABILITY AND
PROSPERITY FOR ALL.

PLEASE ACCEPT, MR. PRESIDENT, THE EXPRESSION OF MY
HIGHEST CONSIDERATION AND BEST REGARDS.

ZINE EL ABIDINE BEN ALI
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA

STOCKER

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