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

348. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Tunisia¹

23812.

Washington, January 28, 1987, 2058Z

SUBJECT

• Tunisian Ambassador’s Call on Vice President Bush.

1. Secret—Entire text.

2. Introduction and Summary: On January 23, Vice President Bush met with Tunisian Ambassador Ben Yahia to accept on behalf of President Reagan a personal message from President Bourguiba.² In relaying message, Ben Yahia assured Vice President concerning Tunisian contacts with Libya and expressed GOT satisfaction about U.S.-Tunisian military contingency planning.³ Discussion also focussed on Chad, Libya’s relations with Morocco and Algeria, Bourguiba’s health, Tunisia’s economy and U.S. assistance.

3. Libya. Ben Yahia opened conversation by referring to Qadhafi’s isolation in North Africa. Rapprochement with Algeria had not gone well, and Libya had suffered serious defeats in Chad. Ben Yahia said he had been instructed by Bourguiba to advise President Reagan that GOT is not about to “save” Qadhafi from his isolation by normalizing ties with Libya. There will be no normalization without Libyan compensation for expelled Tunisian workers and for $200 million in seized assets. Ben Yahia expressed GOT’s conviction that Qadhafi will be unable to meet Tunisian demands.

4. To Vice President’s query about Morocco’s relations with Libya, Ben Yahia responded that Hassan had told GOT FonMin Mabrouk that GOM’s break with Libya was final. Meetings between Algeria and Libya had been a signal to Morocco. Qadhafi’s flirtation with Morocco is over. With regard to Algerian-Libyan ties, Ben Yahia noted that while GOA recognizes that Libyan situation is a “mess,” Bendjedid is reluctant to condemn Qadhafi in part because of situation in Western Sahara. Libya and GOA share positions in OPEC; that is their only common interest.

5. Chad. Ben Yahia expressed GOT satisfaction at losses Qadhafi has suffered in Chad and for U.S. and French support for Chad. He said Bourguiba had discussed Chadian situation with Mitterrand and Chirac during his recent visit to Paris. Tunisians are gratified to see change in Mitterrand’s attitude toward Chad. With French logistical support, Habre dealt a severe blow to Qadhafi. GOT is concerned as to how Qadhafi might respond to this defeat. At present, only pressure being placed on him is from Chad.

6. Contingency Planning. Bourguiba also instructed Ben Yahia to relay to President Reagan his gratification over good work accomplished by US and Tunisian military on joint contingency planning. Meeting at Stuttgart in November resulted in a new phase in USG-GOT cooperation that will assure Tunisia’s security in event of Libyan aggression. He expressed hope that next meeting in March in Tunis will be equally successful.

7. Vice President expressed appreciation on behalf of President Reagan for messages on Libya and USG-GOT military cooperation and inquired about President Bourguiba’s health. Speaking to Bourguiba’s continuing attention to detail in governing Tunisia, Ben Yahia referred to President’s vision in initiating structural adjustment program to turn around Tunisia’s economic crisis. He said that with US help 1987 will be a better year than 1986 for Tunisia.

8. U.S. Assistance. Referring to the U.S. budget squeeze, Vice President said that Secretaries Shultz and Weinberger had complained bitterly about cuts which their departments had to absorb. Despite foreign aid reductions, USG remains determined to try to assist Tunisia. Noting that U.S.-Tunisian relations are built on mutual respect for shared values, Vice President asked Ben Yahia to convey to President Bourguiba President Reagan’s assurance of a U.S. commitment to Tunisia’s prosperity.

Shultz

1. Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S Records, 1987 Nodis Telegrams: Lot 95D26, Tunis Nodis 1987. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by O’Neill; cleared by Gregg, Pearson, Quinn, and Laurie Tracy (S/S–O); approved by Ussery. Sent for information to Algiers, Rabat, Ndjamena, Cairo, Paris, and Brussels.
2. Bourguiba’s message was not found.
3. See Document 345.