[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 236 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 236

   Reaffirming the strong partnership between Tunisia and the United 
States and supporting the people of Tunisia in their continued pursuit 
                         of democratic reforms.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 5, 2019

   Mr. Menendez (for himself and Mr. Romney) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Reaffirming the strong partnership between Tunisia and the United 
States and supporting the people of Tunisia in their continued pursuit 
                         of democratic reforms.

Whereas relations between the United States and Tunisia began in 1795, and the 2 
        countries have partnered in trade and security since the signing of the 
        Treaty of Peace and Friendship, signed at Tunis, August 28, 1797;
Whereas the United States was the first major power to recognize a sovereign 
        Tunisia, following its independence from France in 1956;
Whereas the people of the United States and of Tunisia share core values, such 
        as respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law;
Whereas, on January 14, 2011, the peaceful mass protests of the Jasmine 
        Revolution successfully brought to an end the authoritarian rule of 
        President Ben Ali;
Whereas, in the aftermath of Ben Ali's resignation, Tunisians--

    (1) initiated a peaceful, consensus-based, and inclusive transition to 
democracy;

    (2) held the first competitive, multi-party democratic elections of the 
2011 Arab Spring;

    (3) adopted a new constitution in 2014; and

    (4) held new elections under that constitution later that year;

Whereas, on December 31, 2014, after winning a free and fair presidential 
        election, Beji Caid Essebsi was inaugurated as the first freely elected 
        President of Tunisia;
Whereas, on October 9, 2015, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Tunisian 
        National Dialogue Quartet, a coalition of 4 civil society organizations, 
        the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize for the coalition's work--

    (1) building on the promise of the 2011 Jasmine Revolution; and

    (2) ensuring that the transition of Tunisia into a democracy did not 
descend into violence or renewed authoritarianism;

Whereas Tunisia has been the only North African country to achieve a ``Free'' 
        rating by the Freedom House's annual Freedom in the World report, and 
        has maintained a ``Free'' rating since 2015;
Whereas the political evolution of Tunisia stands as an inspiration for citizens 
        of other states aspiring to establish the institutions of democracy 
        after a history of autocratic rule;
Whereas Tunisia suffered significant terrorist attacks in 2015 and 2016;
Whereas, on October 29, 2018, a terrorist attack on Avenue Habib Bourguiba in 
        Tunis wounded 20 people and was perpetrated by an unemployed university 
        graduate who had been unemployed for 3 years and had no known ties to 
        terrorist groups;
Whereas, in the aftermath of these attacks, citizens and leaders of Tunisia have 
        reaffirmed their commitment to dialogue, pluralism, and democracy;
Whereas a significant number of Tunisian fighters for extremist groups, 
        including the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) reportedly returned 
        to Tunisia, many clandestinely, between 2011 and 2018;
Whereas Tunisia continues to face serious threats to its security from violent 
        extremist groups operating within the country as well as in neighboring 
        countries;
Whereas, in July 2015, President Obama designated Tunisia as a major non-NATO 
        ally;
Whereas Tunisia has committed approximately 15 percent of its budget to defense 
        and interior ministries for counterterrorism in recent years, at the 
        expense of economic and social development;
Whereas Tunisia faces economic challenges, including high inflation and high 
        unemployment, especially among young Tunisians;
Whereas the United States Government is committed to continuing a strong 
        economic partnership with Tunisia as its government undertakes reforms 
        to transform its economy to meet the aspirations of all of the citizens 
        of Tunisia;
Whereas it is in the interest of the United States, and consistent with the 
        values of the United States, to support the aspirations of the people of 
        Tunisia in developing a pluralist democracy and transparent, effective 
        institutions;
Whereas, in accordance with the United States-Tunisia strategic partnership, 
        both countries are dedicated to working together to promote--

    (1) economic development and business opportunities in Tunisia;

    (2) education for the advancement of long-term development in Tunisia; 
and

    (3) increased security cooperation to address common threats in Tunisia 
and across the region; and

Whereas the United States Government should provide a level of funding to 
        strongly assist and reinforce Tunisia's promising transition into a 
        democratic, stable, and prosperous nation: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) commends the people of Tunisia for their commitment to 
        democracy, the rule of law, and free and fair elections;
            (2) commends the political leaders of Tunisia for their 
        willingness to compromise and work together in the national 
        interest;
            (3) condemns all acts of terrorism, and extends condolences 
        to the families of victims of terrorism and to the people and 
        Government of Tunisia;
            (4) commends the people and Government of Tunisia for their 
        resilience in the face of terrorist attacks and their enduring 
        commitment to a free, democratic, and peaceful Republic of 
        Tunisia;
            (5) encourages President Essebi, Head of Government Chahed, 
        and the Parliament of Tunisia to work together to accelerate 
        economic reforms and anti-corruption measures;
            (6) looks forward to new free and fair parliamentary and 
        presidential elections scheduled for the last several months of 
        2019;
            (7) calls on the Government of Tunisia--
                    (A) to fully implement the Tunisian Constitution of 
                2014, including the protection of civil liberties and 
                the establishment of new institutions, such as the 
                Constitutional Court;
                    (B) to continue its commitment to democratic 
                accountability and transitional justice, including with 
                regard to corruption;
                    (C) to continue decentralizing political power to 
                local governments, which is a key step toward more 
                accountable governance and a means to address long-
                standing issues of dramatic regional disparity in 
                health care, education, poverty, and infrastructure; 
                and
                    (D) to further develop its plan to identify, 
                prosecute, deradicalize, or reintegrate into society 
                Tunisian fighters returned from abroad;
            (8) calls on the neighbors and partners of Tunisia to work 
        cooperatively with the Government of Tunisia to counter 
        terrorist threats, secure borders, and support the democratic 
        transition of Tunisia;
            (9) reaffirms the national interest of the United States in 
        continued democracy in Tunisia, including--
                    (A) respect for the rule of law;
                    (B) independent media;
                    (C) a vibrant civil society; and
                    (D) universal rights and freedoms, including equal 
                rights for all citizens and freedom of speech;
            (10) affirms the national interest of the United States in 
        Tunisia's economic prosperity and development, including 
        through increased foreign direct investment, tourism, 
        entrepreneurship, technical cooperation, and strengthened trade 
        ties;
            (11) reaffirms the commitment of the United States 
        Government to Tunisia, including a commitment to provide 
        appropriate levels of assistance, in support of the ongoing 
        transition of Tunisia to an inclusive, prosperous, and secure 
        democracy;
            (12) recognizes important partnerships, including--
                    (A) the U.S.-Tunisia Strategic Dialogue;
                    (B) the U.S.-Tunisia Joint Military Commission;
                    (C) the U.S.-Tunisia Joint Economic Commission;
                    (D) the Tunisian American Enterprise Fund; and
                    (E) international educational exchange programs, 
                including the Fulbright Program and the Thomas 
                Jefferson Scholars Program;
            (13) urges increased United States engagement and 
        cooperation with the people and Government of Tunisia, 
        including--
                    (A) Tunisia's democratic institutions;
                    (B) civil society;
                    (C) schools and universities;
                    (D) independent media; and
                    (E) the private sector; and
            (14) reaffirms the historic and continuing friendship 
        between the people of the United States and the people of 
        Tunisia.
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