Historical Documents - Office of the Historian

78524.

Washington, March 17, 1987, 1728Z

1.

Secret—Entire text.

2.

Embassy should make following reply in response to Prime Minister Sfar’s 3/11 briefing on possible Tunisian-Libyan resumption of ties:

—: We respect GOT’s sovereign right to decide on rapprochement. However, fact that PM broached this subject with us indicates an interest in our reaction.
—: USG is concerned that GOT action will diminish pressure on Qadhafi, particularly unwelcome at a time when Libya is engaged in aggression against Chad.
—: We share PM Sfar’s analysis that threat to Tunisia from Qadhafi continues and is of serious concern.
—: Nonetheless, we are pleased that GOT still intends to proceed with military contingency planning; this is our intention as well.
—: We will be especially sensitive to implications of this new GOT-Libyan relationship relevent to this planning, which is premised in large part on threat from Qadhafi.
—: We noted well PM Sfar’s assertion that normalizaion of relations will be contingent on a resolution of all rpt all outstanding issues—including that of training camps inside Libya.
—: We strongly urge the GOT to maintain this position.

Shultz

Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S Records, 1987 Nodis Telegrams: Lot 95D26, Tunis Nodis 1987. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted byO’Neill; cleared by Zweifel, Denis Kiely (PM), Robert Ayling (AF/C), Elen Laipson (S/P), Steinfeld, Robert Downey (S/S–O), Ussery, and Quinn; cleared for information by Jay Bruns (D); approved by Murphy. Sent for information to USCINCEUR.↩
In telegram 2615 from Tunis, March 13, the Embassy reported: “Reception by Bourguiba of senior Libyan envoy suggests that Libyans have made significant offer to remove outstanding financial differences” incurred after Libya expelled Tunisian workers in 1986. The Embassy continued: “Restoration of diplomatic relations seems a distinct, if necessarily not a near-term possibility. We should not overreact.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D870195–0752)↩
Not found.↩
In telegram 2515 from Tunis, March 11, the Embassy reported: “GOT has advised us in confidence of new high-level contacts with Libya, at Libyan initiative. Bourguiba may receive Libyan envoy tomorrow. Senior GOT officials insist that Tunisia will stick to its demands for restitution on various outstanding claims, but that restoration of diplomatic relations, while not in the cards anytime soon, cannot be excluded eventually.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D870191–0770)↩

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