Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume XXIV, North Africa

14. Memorandum for the Record¹

Washington, undated

SUBJECT

• Meeting [less than 1 line not declassified] Between the DCI and Tunisian Prime Minister Mohamed Mzali [less than 1 line not declassified] Ambassador Cutler and the Tunisian Ambassador to Washington)

1. From this meeting it is clear that Mzali is among those Tunisian leaders who oppose Libya’s Qadhafi and have no illusions about Qadhafi’s objectives. Mzali characterized the Tunisian/Libyan “normalization” as superficial, at best. He is convinced that Qadhafi’s objective in normalizing relations with Tunisia is for the purpose of lowering the Tunisian guard. [2½ lines not declassified]

2. Mzali believes that the visit of Qadhafi has actually helped Tunisia without giving Libya any substantial benefit. However, he noted that neither the Tunisians nor the Libyans have realized any gains from the Qadhafi visit. A number of economic and social projects were agreed to during the visit, but they are meaningless. [4 lines not declassified] Tunisia will continue to attend these agreed upon meetings, but they know nothing will come of them. On the other hand, Qadhafi views these meetings as some form of union.

3. The new open border policy with Libya has helped Tunisia win the war of minds with Libya. Since the Qadhafi visit some 30,000 Tunisians have visited Libya in the hope of obtaining economic benefit. Almost all of these Tunisians have returned from Libya somewhat shocked by the economic disorder they found in Libya. Tunisians are now more convinced than ever that their regime is far superior to Qadhafi’s Libya.

4. Turning to Libyan terrorist attempts against Tunisia, Mzali believes that Tunisia is in a much better position today than it was two years ago [13 lines not declassified].

5. Turning to Algeria, Mzali indicated that President Bendjedid is a serious, constructive leader who is trying to steer his country along a moderate course. However, Bendjedid has a variety of influential Algerians who are trying to take him off the moderate course; he does have an impossible task. [8 lines not declassified]

6. Finally, Mzali let it be known that he believes U.S. policy in the area is making it difficult for moderate Arab countries like Tunisia. For instance, he noted that groups in Tunisia had pressed him to postpone his U.S. visit because of the series of U.S. vetoes in the U.N.

1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 83M00914R: Box 17, C–384, Tunisia. Secret. Prepared on May 4 by [name not declassified].