Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XVII, Part 3, North Africa

194. Memorandum of Conversation¹

New York, October 3, 1977, 11:30am

PARTICIPANTS

• Tunisia

  • Foreign Minister Habib Chatty
  • Ambassador Ali Hedda
  • Ali Tekaia, Counselor of Embassy

• U.S.

  • The Secretary
  • Under Secretary for Political Affairs Philip C. Habib
  • Alec Toumayan, Interpretor
  • Theodore S. Wilkinson, NEA/AFN, (notetaker)

SUBJECT

• Tunisian Request for Security Supporting Assistance; Middle East Peace Negotiations

Referring to his earlier conversation with Mr. Habib,² Chatty said he would like to discuss only one major bilateral concern with the Secretary, before turning to multilateral matters. Chatty said that the Tunisian Government sets great store by its relations with the U.S., which are exceptional and of a very special nature. Thanks to the U.S. Tunisia has reached a stage close to economic take-off. However, it now needs an extra boost, and the U.S. could provide this in the form of Security Supporting Assistance.³ Chatty recalled that he had discussed this with the previous Administration.

Chatty said his rationale for renewing the request for Security Supporting Assistance derives from Tunisia’s unique geographic situation. Together with Morocco, Egypt, Kuwait, Sudan, and Saudi Arabia, Tunisia helps to serve as a buffer between the two great power blocs, but it is the weakest link in the chain—weaker even than the Sudan. This had been brought home with particular starkness during the confrontation with Libya. Chatty said this was the only major bilateral issue he wanted to bring up. Other issues could be discussed with Mr. Habib in the context of the U.S.-Tunisian Joint Commission. He added that the Secretary might want to take some time to think about his proposal. If it was not possible for Tunisia to have Security Supporting Assistance, he hoped that economic assistance and military sales credits could be increased, for the same reasons.

Secretary Vance said that we share the view that relations between our two countries are of great importance, and that we must maintain and strengthen them. He said that we were planning to continue our economic assistance, within the limit of funds available, at approximately the current level.

Regarding Security Supporting Assistance, the Secretary said that we would be willing to explore the matter once more, but his initial reaction was that the Tunisian interest would not be served by this type of aid. We were already getting increasingly penetrating questions from Congress about the large share of total assistance that goes into Security Supporting Assistance. In Tunisia’s case, the question might be put to an up or down vote in Congress, which would be risky. He asked Mr. Habib for his view on the question.

Mr. Habib agreed that Tunisia does not fit in the category that would appeal to Congress for Security Supporting Assistance. He said that we have set a target for military assistance, and that we are looking for ways to increase our economic assistance. The Secretary concluded that Security Supporting Assistance was not a favorable avenue for Tunisia to pursue. He asked what Tunisia’s immediate needs were, what total amount of assistance was at stake, and in what time frame. Chatty replied that Ambassador Hedda could follow-up with precise figures. The important thing to keep in mind was that Tunisia receives economic support from many countries, but that U.S. support has always been a key factor. Other countries follow the U.S. lead. U.S. aid is doubly important; first, for the amount of aid itself; second, because of the example the U.S. sets for others. A U.S. decision to discontinue assistance would be little short of disastrous for Tunisia. The Secretary said that we have no intention to discontinue our assistance.

[Omitted here is discussion of the Middle East.]

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East, Subject File, Box 89, Tunisia: 2/77–6/78. Confidential. Drafted by Wilkinson; approved by Wisner on October 15. The meeting took place in the Secretary’s suite at the UN Plaza.
2. In telegram 243728 to Tunis, October 11, the Department summarized Vance and Habib’s October 3 meeting with Chatty: “During brief meeting with Habib prior to meeting with Secretary, Chatty raised question of a visit to Tunis by Habib and scheduling of Joint Commission. Habib said uncertain course of Middle East negotiations in coming months would make it difficult to accept commitments in October and November, and that it might be best to put off Joint Commission dates until early in 1978.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770370–0562)
3. Originally known as Defense Support Assistance, Security Supporting Assistance was a form of military aid that allowed recipients to purchase arms without using their own resources. In 1978, it was renamed the Economic Support Fund.