US embassy cable - 87STATE393879

UNCLAS STATE 393879 
 
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE 
 
E.O. 12356: N/A 
TAGS:       OPDC, TS 
SUBJECT:    PRESIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE 
 
1.  ON DECEMBER 11 THE TUNISIAN EMBASSY TRANSMITTED THE 
FOLLOWING MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT BEN ALI TO PRESIDENT 
REAGAN:                                         . 
 
BEGIN TEXT: 
 
THE WASHINGTON SIGNING OF THE TREATY FOR THE DISMANTLING 
OF THE INTERMEDIATE MISSILES PROVIDES ME AN OCCASION TO 
SEND YOU MY HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS FOR THIS HISTORIC ACT 
WHICH WITHOUT A DOUBT WILL BE A LANDMARK ON THE ROAD TO 
NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT.  THIS ACCORD COULD HAVE COME ABOUT 
THANKS ONLY TO YOUR POLITICAL COURAGE, YOUR KEEN SENSE OF 
RESPONSIBLITY AND YOUR DETERMINATION TO WRITE A NEW PAGE 
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE 
 
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE 
 
PAGE 02        STATE  393879 
 
IN THIS HISTORY OF MANKIND.  I CARRY THE HOPE THAT YOU 
WILL OVERCOME ALL OBSTACLES IN ORDER TO BANISH THE 
SPECTOR OF WAR AND CONFRONTATION IN THE WORLD AND TO 
PRESERVE FUTURE GENERATIONS FROM DESTRUCTION.  MAY THIS 
DOCUMENT CONTRIBUTE TO TURNING THE PAGE OF THE PAST AND 
TO OPENING A NEW ERA IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FOUNDED 
CHIEFLY ON COOPERATION, SOLIDARITY, AND DIALOGUE. 
 
PLEASE ACCEPT, MR. PRESIDENT, THE ASSURANCES OF MY 
HIGHEST ESTEEM.  ZINE EL ABIDINE BEN ALI, PRESIDENT OF 
THE REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA. 
 
END TEXT. 
 
2.  PLEASE TRANSMIT FOLLOWING MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT 
REAGAN TO PRESIDENT BEN ALI AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE 
OPPORTUNITY: 
 
BEGIN TEXT: 
 
DEAR MR. PRESIDENT, 
 
I GREATLY APPRECIATE RECEIVING YOUR KIND NOTE 
CONGRATULATING ME ON THE SUCCESSFUL SUMMIT WITH SOVIET 
GENERAL SECRETARY GORBACHEV.  WE BELIEVE THOSE MEETINGS 
INDEED MARK A HISTORIC MOMENT IN ADVANCING INTERNATIONAL 
SECURITY, AS WELL AS IN ESTABLISHING A MORE STABLE AND 
CONSTRUCTIVE US RELATIONSHIP.  THE INF TREATY THAT I 
SIGNED WITH THE GENERAL SECRETARY IS CLEARLY A LANDMARK 
ACHIEVEMENT: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY OUR TWO 
NATIONS HAVE AGREED TO REDUCE OUR NUCLEAR ARSENALS, NOT 
JUST LIMIT THEIR GROWTH.  AND THERE IS THE PROMISE OF 
STILL GREATER PROGRESS IN PLACING EAST-WEST RELATIONS ON 
A SOUNDER FOOTING. 
 
MY TALKS WITH GORBACHEV WERE QUITE FRANK AND CANDID -- 
NEITHER OF US ATTEMPTED TO MASK OUR DISAGREEMENTS.  THE 
GENERAL SECRETARY UNDERSTANDS THAT IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR 
RELATIONSHIP CAN RESULT ONLY IF WE SERIOUSLY ADDRESS THE 
ENTIRE FOUR-PART AGENDA: HUMAN RIGHTS, REGIONAL CONCERNS, 
BILATERAL MATTERS AND ARMS REDUCTIONS.  WE HAD A FRANK 
AND VERY LIVELY EXCHANGE ON ALL OF THESE ISSUES, AND 
WHILE WE DID NOT MAKE BREAKTHROUGHS IN EVERY AREA, I AM 
ENCOURAGED BY THE SERIOUSNESS WITH WHICH GORBACHEV IS 
CONSIDERING OUR POINT OF VIEW. 
 
BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR. 
 
SINCERELY, RONALD REAGAN 
 
END TEXT. 
 
3.  DEPARTMENT HAS NO INTENTION OF RELEASING TEXT BUT HAS 
NO OBJECTION SHOULD GOT CHOOSE TO DO SO. 
 
 
WHITEHEAD