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| Identifier: | 97TUNIS5237 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks: | View 97TUNIS5237 at Wikileaks.org |
| Origin: | Embassy Tunis |
| Created: | 1997-10-14 15:16:00 |
| Classification: | UNCLASSIFIED |
| Tags: | PINR PGOV TS |
| Redacted: | This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks. |
R 141516Z OCT 97 FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6783
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 TUNIS 005237 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PINR, PGOV, TS SUBJECT: TUNISIAN GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION OF 10/9/97: BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON NEW APPOINTEES REF: TUNIS 5199 1. SUMMARY. THIS CABLE CONTAINS BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON NINE INDIVIDUALS TUNISIAN PRESIDENT ZINE EL ABIDINE BEN ALI APPOINTED TO GOVERNMENT POSITIONS ON OCTOBER 9, 1997 (REFTEL). THEY ARE FOREIGN MINISTER SAID BEN MUSTAPHA, INTERIOR MINISTER ALI CHAOUCH, AGRICULTURE MINISTER SADOK RABEH, EDUCATION MINISTER RIDHA FERCHIOU, PUBLIC WORKS MINISTER SLAHEDDINE BELAID, INDUSTRY MINISTER MONCEF BEN ABDALLAH, TRANSPORT MINISTER HASSINE CHOUK, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHARGED WITH PUBLIC PARTICIPATIONS AISSA HIDOUSSI, AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE CHARGED WITH HYDRAULIC RESOURCES AND FISHERIES AMEUR HORCHANI. END SUMMARY. SAID BEN MUSTAPHA, FOREIGN MINISTER . ----------------------------------- 2. SAID BEN MUSTAPHA WAS BORN JULY 28, 1938 IN TUNIS, TUNISIA. HE EARNED A DEGREE IN ECONOMICS AND A DIPLOMA FROM THE INSTITUT DES HAUTES ETUDES INTERNATIONALES OF GENEVA IN 1961. HE BEGAN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN 1962 AS A SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN THE FOREIGN MINISTRY. IN OCTOBER 1963, HE WAS APPOINTED CONSUL IN BENGHAZI, LIBYA. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE ASIAN/NEAR EAST DESK AT THE FOREIGN MINISTRY IN 1967. HE WAS PROMOTED TO COUNSELOR OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN 1969. 3. IN 1970, BEN MUSTAPHA WAS ASSIGNED AS TUNISIAN CHARGE D'AFFAIRES IN TRIPOLI, LIBYA. IN 1975, HE BECAME AN ATTACHE IN THE CABINET OF THE FOREIGN MINISTER. AFTER SERVING AS TUNISIAN CONSUL GENERAL IN LYON, HE WAS NAMED CONSUL GENERAL IN PALERMO, ITALY ON DECEMBER 5, 1979. 4. BEN MUSTAPHA WAS PROMOTED TO MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY IN 1981. ON NOVEMBER 29, 1982, HE WAS APPOINTED AMBASSADOR TO LEBANON. ON AUGUST 17, 1985, HE WAS ASSIGNED AS AMBASSADOR TO JORDAN, WITH CONCURRENT ACCREDITATION TO LEBANON. ON JUNE 18, 1988, HE WAS NAMED TUNISIAN HIGH REPRESENTATIVE (AMBASSADOR) TO LIBYA. 5. ON NOVEMBER 1, 1991, BEN MUSTAPHA WAS DESIGNATED SECRETARY OF STATE AT THE FOREIGN MINISTRY RESPONSIBLE FOR MAGHREB AFFAIRS, THE SECOND-RANKING OFFICIAL IN THE MINISTRY. BEN MUSTAPHA HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A GRAND OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF THE TUNISIAN REPUBLIC. ON MAY 9, 1997, HE WAS NAMED AMBASSADOR TO ITALY. HE IS MARRIED AND THE FATHER OF THREE CHILDREN. ALI CHAOUCH, INTERIOR MINISTER ------------------------------ 6. ALI CHAOUCH WAS BORN ON JUNE 26, 1948 IN BOURADA, TUNISIA. HE EARNED A DEGREE IN ECONOMICS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TUNIS IN 1970. HE BEGAN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER AS A CABINET ATTACHE IN THE NATIONAL BUILDING COMPANY (SNIT) FROM 1970 TO 1972. FROM 1972 TO 1981 HE WAS A DIVISION HEAD AT SNIT. 7. IN 1981 AND 1982, HE WAS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE PARASTATAL COMPANY FOR THE PLANNING OF TUNIS. IN 1982, HE BECAME PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE AGENCY FOR URBAN REHABILITATION AND RENOVATION. ON NOVEMBER 21, 1987, CHAOUCH WAS APPOINTED GOVERNOR OF MEDENINE. IN APRIL 1989, HE WAS NAMED PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE HOUSING AGENCY. THE SAME YEAR, HE BECAME A MEMBER OF THE TUNISIAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL. 8. ON NOVEMBER 19, 1991, CHAOUCH WAS APPOINTED PERMANENT SECRETARY OF THE RULING DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTIONAL RALLY (RCD) POLITICAL PARTY CHARGED WITH ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. ON MARCH 12, 1992, HE BECAME RCD PERMANENT SECRETARY CHARGED WITH STRUCTURES AND MOBILIZATION. ON JULY 31, 1992, CHAOUCH WAS APPOINTED SECRETARY OF STATE AT THE HEALTH MINISTRY. ON JUNE 14, 1993, HE WAS NAMED MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING. HE WAS ELECTED A MEMBER OF THE RCD CENTRAL COMMITTEE IN 1993. HE WAS ELECTED A MEMBER OF TUNISIA'S NATIONAL LEGISLATURE, THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES, IN 1994. CHAOUCH HAS BEEN DESIGNATED GRAND OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF THE TUNISIAN REPUBLIC AND GRAND OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF NOVEMBER 7. HE IS MARRIED AND THE FATHER OF THREE CHILDREN. HE HAS VISITED THE UNITED STATES UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE US GOVERNMENT INTERNATIONAL VISITOR PROGRAM. SADOK RABEH, AGRICULTURE MINISTER --------------------------------- 9. SADOK RABEH WAS BORN ON JULY 9, 1948 IN METOUIA, TUNISIA. UPON COMPLETION OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDIES IN GABES AND IN TUNIS, HE OBTAINED THE BACCALAUREATE IN MATHEMATICS IN 1967. THE FOLLOWING YEAR, HE JOINED THE ENGINEERS' SCHOOL IN VERSAILLES, PRANCE. FROM 1967 TO 1969, HE STUDIED AT THE GRANDES ECOLES D'INGENIEUR AT VERSAILLES, FRANCE. HE EARNED AN ENGINEERING DEGREE FROM THE ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE OF PARIS IN 1971 AND ANOTHER DEGREE IN ENGINEERING STATISTICS AND ECONOMICS FROM THE ECOLE NATIONALE DE LA STATISTIQUE ET DE L'ADMINISTRATION ECONOMIQUE OF PARIS IN 1973. 10. RABEH STARTED HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN 1973-74 AS DIRECTOR OF STUDIES OF THE NATIONAL ENGINEERS' SCHOOL OF TUNIS. FROM 1975 TO 1980, HE WAS IN CHARGE OF STUDIES AND FINANCING AT THE TUNISIAN ELECTRICITY AND GAS COMPANY (STEG). 11. IN 1981, RABEH WAS APPOINTED PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE SEA-GAS STUDIES COMPANY. IN 1983, HE SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION OF HYDROCARBONS AT THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMY. FROM 1984 TO 1987, HE WAS DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR ENERGY OF THE ECONOMICS MINISTRY. FROM 1987 TO JULY, 1988, HE SERVED AS PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE TUNISIAN OIL COMPANY (ETAP). ON JULY 26, 1988, HE WAS APPOINTED MINISTER OF ENERGY AND MINES. ON APRIL 11, 1989, HE WAS NAMED MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS. 12. ON FEBRUARY 20, 1991, RABEH WAS APPOINTED MINISTER OF NATIONAL ECONOMY. ON JANUARY 24, 1995, HE BECAME MINISTER OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS. ON JUNE 13, 1996, HE WAS APPOINTED AS MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION. RABEH IS ALSO PROFESSOR OF STATISTICS AND ECONOMY AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF ENERGY. HE HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE RCD CENTRAL COMMITTEE SINCE 1988. HE HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A COMMANDER OF THE ORDER OF THE TUNISIAN REPUBLIC. RABEH IS MARRIED AND HAS THREE CHILDREN. RIDHA FERCHIOU, EDUCATION MINISTER ---------------------------------- 13. RIDHA FERCHIOU WAS BORN APRIL 8, 1945 IN TUNIS, TUNISIA. HE RECEIVED A PH.D IN ECONOMICS FROM MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY. HE SERVED AS AN ECONOMICS PROFESSOR AT THE HIGHER INSTITUTE OF COMMERCIAL STUDIES AND WAS ITS DIRECTOR FROM 1976 TO 1988. 14. IN 1988, HE WAS NAMED A COUNSELOR IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE. IN 1993, FERCHIOU WAS NAMED DIRECTOR OF THE MINISTRY'S HIGHER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGICAL STUDIES. IN 1995, HE BECAME CHIEF 0F STAFF OF THE MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION. HE ATTENDED THE SALZBURG SEMINAR IN JULY 1997, AT THE INVITATION OF THE EMBASSY AND HAS VISITED THE UNITED STATES UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE US GOVERNMENT'S INTERNATIONAL VISITOR PROGRAM. FERCHIOU HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A CHEVALIER OF THE ORDER OF THE TUNISIAN REPUBLIC. HE IS MARRIED AND THE FATHER OF TWO CHILDREN. SLAHEDDINE BELAID, PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING MINISTER -------------------------------------------- 15. (U) SLAHEDDINE BELAID WAS BORN NOVEMBER 13, 1939 IN JEMMAL, TUNISIA. HE RECEIVED AN ENGINEERING DIPLOMA FROM THE ECOLE NATIONALE DES PONTS ET CHAUSSEES IN PARIS IN 1962- HE BEGAN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN 1962 AS CHIEF OF THE SECTION OF NEW PORT CONSTRUCTION. IN MARCH 1964, BELAID WAS ASSIGNED TO THE SECRETARIAT OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO WORK AT THE ECONOMIC COMMISSI0N FOR AFRICA. IN SEPTEMBER 1967, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL ECONOMY AS DIRECTOR OF THE TOURISM PROJECT OF THE TUNISIAN NATIONAL TOURISM OFFICE. 16. IN 1974 BELAID BECAME PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF SONATRA-GET. ON FEBRUARY 6, 1988, HE WAS APPOINTED CHARGE DE MISSION IN THE CABINET OF THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING AND DIRECTOR GENERAL OF BRID GES AND ROADS. 17. IN FEBRUARY 1993, HE WAS NAMED DIRECTOR GENERAL OF PLANNING, COOPERATION AND TRAINING IN THE SAME MINISTRY. IN 1994, BELAID WAS APPOINTED PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE LAKE OF TUNIS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. BELAID HAS BEEN NAMED A COMMANDER OF THE ORDER OF THE REPUBLIC. HE HAS VISITED THE UNITED STATES UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S INTERNATIONAL VISITOR PROGRAM. HE IS MARRIED AND THE FATHER OF ONE CHILD. MONCEF BEN ABDALLAH, INDUSTRY MINISTER -------------------------------------- 18. MONCEF BEN ABDALLAH WAS BORN OCTOBER 21, 1946 IN TUNIS, TUNISIA. HE RECEIVED A DEGREE IN MATHEMATICS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TUNIS IN 1968 AND AN ENGINEERING DEGREE FROM THE ECOLE CENTRALE IN PARIS IN 1972. HE BEGAN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER AS A PRINCIPAL ENGINEER AT THE TUNISIAN ELECTRIC AND GAS UTILITY COMPANY (STEG) IN 1972. IN 1975 BEN ABDALLAH WAS NAMED CHARGE DE MISSION IN THE CABINET OF THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL ECONOMY, RISING TO TECHNICAL COUNSELOR AND, IN 1977, CHIEF OF STAFF. FROM 1977 TO 1979, HE WAS DIRECTOR OF PARTICIPATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE TUNISIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM AGENCY (ETAP). FROM APRIL 1979 TO APRIL 1980, BEN ABDALLAH WORKED AT THE MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, MINES AND ENERGY, FIRST AS DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY THEN AS CHIEF OF STAFF. 19. IN OCTOBER 1980, HE WAS APPOINTED PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE INVESTMENT PROMOTION AGENCY. FROM NOVEMBER 1984 TO DECEMBER 1985, HE SERVED AS TECHNICAL COUNSELOR FOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS TO THE PRIME MINISTER. BEN ABDALLAH SERVED AS PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE AGENCY FOR THE UTILIZATION OF ENERGY FROM DECEMBER 1985 TO AUGUST 1991. HE NEXT SERVED AS PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE CEMENT CORPORATION OF ENFIDHA. 20. IN JUNE 1992, BEN ADBALLAH WAS APPOINTED PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE TUNISIAN ELECTRIC AND GAS UTILITY COMPANY (STEG). ON APRIL 1, 1996, HE WAS NAMED SECRETARY OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHARGED WITH THE RESTRUCTURING OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES. BEN ABDALLAH HAS SERVED AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE TUNISIAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL SINCE 1994. SINCE 1986, HE HAS BEEN AN INTERNATIONAL EXPERT IN THE ENERGY FIELD ON THE ROSTERS OF THE WORLD BANK AND UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. HE HOLDS THE HONOR OF GRAND OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF THE REPUBLIC. HE HAS VISITED THE UNITED STATES UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S INTERNATIONAL VISITOR PROGRAM. HE IS MARRIED AND THE FATHER OF THREE CHILDREN. HASSINE CHOUK, TRANSPORT MINISTER --------------------------------- 21. HASSINE CHOUK WAS BORN ON DECEMBER 2, 1946 IN NEFTA, TUNISIA. HE RECEIVED A MATHEMATICS DEGREE FROM THE SCIENCE FACULTY OF TUNIS IN 1969 AND A DIPLOMA IN AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING FROM THE ECOLE NATIONALE DE L'AERONAUTIQUE ET DE L'ESPACE OF TOULOUSE, FRANCE IN 1972. CHOUK BEGAN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN JULY 1972 AS A PRINCIPAL ENGINEER IN CHARGE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN THE TUNISIAN METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE. ON APRIL 19, 1973 HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE TUNISIAN NATIONAL AIRLINE TUNISAIR AS PRINCIPAL ENGINEER IN CHARGE OF AVIONICS AND FLIGHT INSTRUMENTATION. ON FEBRUARY 1, 1975, CHOUK WAS ASSIGNED TO THE NAVIGABILITY INSPECTORATE OF THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS; HE BECAME AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IN DECEMBER 1975. 22. CHOUK WAS PROMOTED TO THE GRADE OF ENGINEER IN CHIEF IN JULY 1980. IN DECEMBER 1981, HE BECAME DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL OF CIVIL AVIATION AND METEOROLOGY. ON NOVEMBER 25, 1987, CHOUK WAS NAMED PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL CORPORATION FOR INTERURBAN TRANSPORTATION (SNTRI). HE WAS PROMOTED TO THE GRADE OF GENERAL ENGINEER IN 1988. 23. IN SEPTEMBER 1990, CHOUK WAS APPOINTED PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE TUNISIAN OFFICE OF AIRPORTS. IN AUGUST 1996, HE BECAME PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE TUNISIAN NAVIGATION COMPANY. CHOUK HAS SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE SHIPBUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF TUNIS AND THE SOUTHERN FRANCE/TUNISIA MARITIME ASSOCIATION. HE HAS BEEN PRESIDENT OF THE BAB EL KHADRA BRANCH OF THE RULING DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTIONAL RALLY (RCD) POLITICAL PARTY. HE HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AN OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF THE TUNISIAN REPUBLIC. CHOUK IS MARRIED AND THE FATHER OF 3 CHILDREN. AISSA HIDOUSSI, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHARGED WITH PUBLIC PARTICIPATIONS --------------------------------------------- -- 24. AISSA HIDOUSSI WAS BORN MAY 6, 1948 IN MEDJEZ EL BAB, TUNISIA. HE HOLDS A DIPLOMA AND THIRD CYCLE CERTIFICATE FROM THE HIGHER INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT. FROM 1970 TO 1972 HE WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR OF THE TUNIS REAL ESTATE EXCHANGE. FROM 1972 TO 1980 HE WAS DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURAL CREDIT AT THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. 25. FROM 1980 TO 1983 HIDOUSSI WAS AN IMF SENIOR EXPERT. IN 1983, HE WAS NAMED ASSISTANT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK. IN 1987, HE WAS APPOINTED PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE TUNISIAN/UNITED ARAB EMIRATES INVESTMENT BANK. 26. FROM 1992 TO 1994, HIDOUSSI WAS DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE ARAB MAGHREB COOPERATION BANK. IN 1995, HE WAS APPOINTED PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE UNION INTERNATIONALE DE BANQUES (UIB). HE IS ALSO A PROFESSOR AT THE INSTITUTE OF FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT (IFID). HIDOUSSI IS A MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RULING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRATIC RALLY (RCD) POLITICAL PARTY. HE SERVED AS MAYOR OF MEDJEZ EL BAB FROM 1985 TO 1990. HE HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AN OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF THE TUNISIAN REPUBLIC. HE IS MARRIED AND THE FATHER OF THREE CHILDREN. AMEUR HORCHANI, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE CHARGED WITH HYDRAULIC RESOURCES AND FISHERIES --------------------------------------------- --- 27. AMEUR HORCHANI WAS BORN OCTOBER 23, 1937 IN DEGACHE, TUNISIA. HE HOLDS A DEGREE IN ENGINEERING AND A DIPLOMA IN NUCLEAR MANAGEMENT FROM THE ECOLE SUPERIEURE D'HYDRAULIQUE OF GRENOBLE, FRANCE. HE BEGAN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN OCTOBER 1967 AS A PRINCIPAL ENGINEER AT THE AGRICULTURE MINISTRY. HE BECAME AN ENGINEER IN CHIEF IN JUNE 1975. IN JUNE 1978, HE WAS APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF STUDIES OF HYDRAULIC PROJECTS. 28. HORCHANI WAS PROMOTED TO GENERAL ENGINEER IN 1983. IN 1987, HE WAS NAMED DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE HYDRAULIC PROJECTS DEPARTMENT. ON APRIL 11, 1988, HE WAS APPOINTED SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE CHARGED WITH HYDRAULIC RESOURCES. ON JULY 16, 1988, HE BECAME SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE CHARGED WITH FISHERIES AND HYDRAULIC RESOURCES. ON APRIL 11, 1989, HORCHANI WAS NAMED SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE CHARGED WITH HYDRAULIC RESOURCES. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RULING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRATIC RALLY (RCD) POLITICAL PARTY FROM JULY 1988 TO AUGUST 1, 1993. HE HAS VISITED THE UNITED STATES UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S INTERNATIONAL VISITOR PROGRAM. LITTREL
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