VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTU #0416 1190739
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 280739Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4867

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000416 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/MAG (HARRIS AND HOPKINS) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2018 
TAGS: PGOV KNNP DPRK SY IAEA PARM PREL TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIAN RESPONSE TO SYRIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM 
 
REF: STATE 43817 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Robert F. Godec for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (SBU) This cable contains and action request: Please see 
para 3. 
 
¶2. (C) During an April 25 meeting with the Ambassador on 
other topics, MFA Director General for the Americas and Asia 
Elyas Kasri asked about the recent news about Syria's covert 
nuclear program.  Referring to reftel talking points and the 
White House press release, the Ambassador stressed that we 
have good evidence Syria did not intend to use this reactor 
for peaceful purposes.  Kasri asked why the USG had waited so 
long to release information on Syria's nuclear program.  The 
Ambassador said that the USG delayed sharing this information 
because our first concern was to prevent conflict.  Kasri 
asked the Ambassador for more details about this "conflict," 
including specific parties involved.  He also asked if the 
topic was discussed during the April meetings between the 
United States and North Korea. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Post requests the Department share any additional 
information that can be used to respond to Kasri's inquiries. 
 
Please visit Embassy Tunis' Classified Website at: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/tunis/index.c fm 
GODEC