[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 94 (Wednesday, June 5, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S3264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





   SENATE RESOLUTION 236--REAFFIRMING THE STRONG PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN 
 TUNISIA AND THE UNITED STATES AND SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE OF TUNISIA IN 
             THEIR CONTINUED PURSUIT OF DEMOCRATIC REFORMS

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

                              S. Res. 236

       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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