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S E C R E T STATE 067097 
 
NOFORN, SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/19 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER KDRG TS
SUBJECT: SPECIAL ENVOY FRIED'S MEETING WITH TUNISIAN 
AMBASSADOR MANSOUR 
 
REF: (A) TUNIS 415, (B) TUNIS 407 
 
Classified by:  Special Envoy Dan Fried.  Reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d) 
 
1.(S/NF) SUMMARY: In a June 25 meeting, Special Envoy for 
the Closing of the Guantanamo Bay detention Facility 
Daniel Fried recounted to Tunisian Ambassador Habib 
Mansour unfulfilled GOT humane treatment assurances and 
presidential offer of access to the detainees that have 
led to U.S. resettlement efforts in EU countries rather 
than Tunisia.  Mansour stressed that the Tunisian 
adherence to its constitution and compliance with 
international treaties guaranteed the rights of its 
citizens, adding that there was no reason for human 
rights concerns. 
 
¶2. (S/NF) Ambassador Fried advised Mansour that GOT 
pressure on EU countries to decline resettlement of 
Tunisian detainees would compel the U.S. to explain to 
them why Tunisian detainees could not return to Tunisia, 
thus unnecessarily escalating and publicizing the issue. 
Fulfillment of GOT assurances and a track record of USG 
access to the detainees would be a welcome step that 
would help to clarify the situation.  Within this 
scenario, it might be possible to consider the return of 
some additional detainees.  Mansour cautioned patience 
on both sides in order to reach a common point and noted 
that detainees not facing charges in Tunisia would be 
free to return home. Fried underscored throughout the 
meeting that USG access and fulfillment of GOT 
commitments were key.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3. (S/NF) Special Envoy for the Closing of the 
Guantanamo Bay detention Facility Daniel Fried met with 
Tunisian Ambassador Habib Mansour at the latter's 
request on June 25 to convey to the U.S. that the GOT 
would like all Tunisian nationals detained at Guantanamo 
Bay to be returned to Tunisia rather than resettled in 
third countries.   Mansour's meeting comes on the heels 
of Tunisian FM Abdallah's convocation of Ambassador 
Godec June 18 (Ref A), and the FM meeting with the 
German, Italian, and Spanish ambassadors in Tunis June 
22 (Ref B). 
 
---------------------------------- 
Testing the Bilateral Relationship 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C)  Ambassador Mansour thanked Ambassador Fried for 
the opportunity to meet, noting the meeting demonstrated 
the good relations between the two countries that have 
been built up over 200 years.  This meeting was a chance 
to check if both countries had succeeded in building 
good relations, which were based on common choices and 
values.  In this vein, Mansour was comfortable 
discussing this sensitive and important issue. 
 
¶5. (S/NF)  Alluding to FM Abdallah's discussion with 
Ambassador Godec, Mansour said the GOT was surprised to 
learn that the current plan is to resettle the 12 
remaining Tunisian detainees in Europe rather than 
return them to Tunisia.  Mansour pointed out that the 
Tunisian detainees would be "better treated" at home 
with their families rather than in other countries. 
 
--------------- 
Broken Promises 
--------------- 
 
¶6. (S/NF)  Ambassador Fried agreed with Mansour that it 
is in general preferable for the detainees to be 
reunited with their families in their home country, but 
there is a history of some depth that has created 
complications regarding the GOT desire to see the return 
of the remaining Tunisian detainees.  Fried recapped the 
MOJ/MOI humane treatment assurances of 2006-2007 and the 
Ben Dhia-Negroponte letter which paved the way for the 
June 2007 repatriation of two Tunisians.  Both of the 
detainees subsequently were tried and received prison 
sentences of three and seven years respectively. 
 
¶7. (S/NF) Shortly afterwards, the U.S. received credible 
allegations of abuse.  The Deputies instructed the 
Embassy to discuss the matter with the GOT to reach an 
additional understanding, which was a difficult process. 
In 2008, then-Secretary Rice received President Ben 
Ali's personal assurances regarding humane treatment 
plus an offer of USG access to the detainees, which the 
U.S. appreciated.  However, USG officials  were told 
later that there would be no access despite President 
Ben Ali's offer.  The access issue also was raised by 
then-NEA Assistant Secretary Welch with FM Abdallah, but 
to no avail. 
 
¶8. (S/NF) The U.S. has no desire to make an issue of 
this matter, Fried said, nor is it in the U.S. interest 
to criticize Tunisia, but there is a problem:  President 
Ben Ali made promises that have not been kept.  We would 
have a problem returning the detainees to Tunisia under 
these circumstances.  If the GOT tells EU countries to 
not accept Tunisian detainees for transfer, then the 
U.S. would have to explain to those countries why we are 
unable to return them to Tunisia, thus publicizing the 
issue, which is not in our interests. 
 
¶9. (S/NF) Less prepared to counter each point, Mansour 
rejoined that there were charges pending against the two 
detainees returned in 2007.  They were tried, and then 
appealed their sentences, which were reduced.  This 
process demonstrated that Tunisia operates under the 
rule of law.  Their trial was fair and open.  Regarding 
the allegations of abuse, there is no better justice 
than the Tunisian Constitution or the UN bodies and 
mechanisms to which Tunisia belongs, particularly the 
Convention Against Torture.  Mansour noted he had been 
posted to Geneva and explained Tunisian's position many 
a time to the various committees.  Mansour underscored 
Tunisia's international commitments which superseded 
Tunisian law. "Tunisian authorities respect the 
integrity of the individual, even that of foreigners. 
It is a part of our daily law." 
 
¶10. (S/NF) Mansour said he was present in the Abdallah- 
Welch meeting.  He reiterated President Ben Ali said 
that there was no need for concern and that Tunisian law 
guaranteed individual rights.  Regarding prison visits, 
families and lawyers are permitted to visit.  For the 
past four years, the ICRC has been able to visit the 
detainees and their reports are publicly available. 
 
¶11. (S/NF)  Fried repeated the U.S. belief it had a 
commitment from President Ben Ali for access.  Fried 
reiterated that it is not in the U.S. interest to 
publicize this matter.  Lack of access as promised to 
Secretary Rice makes it hard to repatriate Tunisian 
nationals per the GOT position.  Fried said that he had 
discussed resettlement of Tunisian detainees with Italy 
and Spain. Such a transfer, he said, would not be an act 
against Tunisia or meant to cause embarrassment. 
Escalating the issue, however, makes it difficult to 
resolve.  He added he was aware that Tunisia already had 
approached Spain regarding resettlement, noting it was a 
decision for the Spanish to make.  There are a number of 
detainees in Guantanamo who have criminal charges in 
Tunisia and elsewhere.  Some have no charges pending 
against them. 
 
¶12. (S/NF) Fried said he hoped the U.S. would be able to 
gain access to the detainees which will help resolve the 
issue to the benefit of both countries.  A track record 
of USG access would be a welcome development.  Fried 
raised the scenario of some Tunisians being resettled in 
Europe, and made clear that the USG would continue to 
seek resettlement in Europe, but left open the 
possibility of other potential returns to Tunisia should 
the detainees choose to do so. Fried reaffirmed the USG 
intent to continue the process with European countries. 
 
¶13. (S/NF)  Mansour cautioned patience in order to reach 
a common point on this sensitive issue.  Mansour broke 
the Tunisian detainees into 2 categories:  1) those with 
no international charges who do not pose a security 
risk, citing the returned Tunisian Imam from Canada who 
resides freely with his family; 2) those who face 
charges in Tunisian courts.  Mansour reiterated that 
Tunisia is a state of law governed by the rule of law. 
Those charged will be afforded the guarantees of the 
Constitution and penal law in the presence of their 
families, lawyers, and the ICRC. He added that the issue 
is not being dealt with under the table, citing the 
recently held MOJ press conference, which underscored 
Tunisia's transparent approach.  Mansour said he will 
pass on to his government all that had been discussed, 
adding that it was good to engage in this dialogue, his 
first.  He said he believed himself to be a credible 
interlocutor.  Fried said he hoped the GOT would 
consider two things:  1) USG access to the detainees now 
in Tunisia, which would help continue the discussion; 
and 2) a recalibration of the GOT public position on the 
return of the Tunisian detainees.  Citing FM Abdallah's 
remarks to the EU ambassadors, Mansour said we are now 
at the beginning of a new era in our relations and 
facing common international challenges.  We hope that we 
can reach an understanding to avoid obstacles. 
 
¶14. (C) L/PM Pomper added that in addition to all of the 
policy aspects surrounding this issue, there are also 
U.S. judicial considerations.  Some of the Tunisians had 
obtained injunctions prohibiting their return to 
Tunisia.  In order to move forward on returns to 
Tunisia, the USG would have to declare to the Court that 
it had no human rights concerns, which currently is not 
the case. 
 
 
¶15. (C) In closing, Mansour said that he was happy with 
the changes to the image of the U.S. that the initiative 
to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility would 
bring about.  President Obama's speech in Cairo gave 
hope to all people in the world, especially Muslim 
people.  Fried noted that Secretary Clinton had 
announced the appointment of Farah Pandith as the Senior 
Advisor on Muslim engagement for the Department of 
State.  Fried thanked Mansour for the meeting, adding 
that his door was always open to discuss this issue. 
CLINTON