363. Letter From President Reagan to Tunisian President Ben Ali1
I was pleased to receive your reply2 to my letter of February 25, 1988, and wished to take advantage of John Whitehead’s visit to write again.3
The United States was glad to maintain a close dialogue with you during the recent United Nations Security Council debate.4 I can assure you personally that the United States had no knowledge of the assassination committed in violation of your country’s territorial integrity. Our condemnation of such acts has been clear and unequivocal, as has our support for the inviolability of Tunisia’s sovereignty.
The discussions held during Foreign Minister Mestiri’s Washington visit in March,5 and Secretary Carlucci’s subsequent meeting with you in Tunisia,6 reflected our common interest in furthering a close and cooperative relationship.
[Page 748]The United States will continue to participate in efforts to offset the damaging drought now confronting Tunisia. Despite our own budgetary constraints, we will support Tunisia’s structural adjustment program. We also place a high premium on our programs of military cooperation with Tunisia. As Tunisia pursues its goals of political and economic reform, be assured of our full support.
I look forward to discussing these and other issues with you during your anticipated visit to Washington in September. I am delighted to invite you to meet with me at the White House on September 19. In the meantime, you have my best wishes during the holy month of Ramadan.
Sincerely,
- Source: Reagan Library, William J. Burns Files, Tunisia: 02/01/88–07/31/88. No classification marking.↩
- See footnote 4, Document 360.↩
- See Document 357. For Whitehead’s May 11–12 visit to Tunisia, see Document 364.↩
- See Document 362.↩
- See Document 360.↩
- See footnote 6, Document 360.↩