Cablegate: Tfha01: Got Concerned by Missing Srsg Annabi, Ben

VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTU #0025 0141644
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 141644Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7143
INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 0001
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0107

UNCLAS TUNIS 000025

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPKO TU
SUBJECT: TFHA01: GOT CONCERNED BY MISSING SRSG ANNABI, BEN
ALI EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES

REF: PORT AU PRINCE 44

Sensitive but Unclassified. Please protect accordingly.

1. (SBU) During a January 14 meeting, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Americas Desk Officers Mourad Belhassan and Hatem
Landoulsi advised pol-econoffs that the GOT was deeply
concerned for the welfare of Hedi Annabi, the distinguished
Tunisian Diplomat serving as the Special Representative of
the Secretary General at the UN Assistance Mission in Haiti
reported missing (reftel), and feared the worst. (Note: The
Embassy's UN Contacts in Tunis tell us they also have no
confirmation about Annabi at this time. End note.)
Belhassan and Landoulsi said they would welcome any further
information the USG might be able to provide on Annabi and
were unaware of any other official Tunisians in Haiti.

2. (SBU) President Ben Ali issued a statement on January 13
expressing Tunisia's condolences and sympathy to the
Government and people of Haiti. (Comment: Given Tunisia's
modest resources and considerable distance from Haiti, we do
not expect the GOT to offer any substantive assistance. End
comment.)

GRAY

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