Office of the Historian

356. Letter From Tunisian President Ben Ali to President Reagan1

Tunis, November 12, 1987
Mr. President:

It was with deep satisfaction and great pleasure that I received the cordial message Your Excellency sent to me upon my accession to the Presidency of the Republic of Tunisia.2

Allow me to offer my warm thanks and to tell you how pleased I am to see a great and friendly country welcome a calm transition in a country that is fiercely devoted to the rule of law and mindful of preserving, with order and discipline, the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Tunisia. Our commitment to insure continuity with stability, to which you have lent support and encouragement, has no other purpose than to assure harmonious development for our democratic institutions and to reaffirm the achievements of the nation and the right of the Tunisian people to dignity, well-being, and progress.

Under such circumstances, it was natural for us to anticipate the support of friendly countries like the United States which have spared no effort to support us, as much in our struggle to recover our independence as in the building of a modern society. We are delighted, yet not surprised, by the generous feelings expressed in your warm message and your provisions to continue and strengthen the close and friendly relations between our two countries.

We also share the optimism about the future which you have so cordially noted. We hope this future is bright and full of promise for the development of the bonds of friendship between our two countries.

Accept, Mr. President, my sincere wishes for your personal good health and happiness and for the well-being and prosperity of our friends, the American people.

Zine El Abidine Ben Ali3
President of the Republic of Tunisia
  1. Source: Reagan Library, Near East and South Asia Affairs Directorate, William J. Burns Files, Tunisia 1986–1987. No classification marking. Sent to Stevens under a November 27 covering memorandum from McElhany. (Ibid.) Printed from a translation prepared in the Division of Language Services, Department of State.↩
  2. See Document 355.↩
  3. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩