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Calendar No. 234 

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, Mr. ROMNEY, and Mr. COONS) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 

Reported by Mr. RISCH, without amendment 

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; 


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•SRES 236 RS 

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; 


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•SRES 236 RS 

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; 


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•SRES 236 RS 

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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) commends the people of Tunisia for their 

3 commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and free 

4 and fair elections; 

5 (2) commends the political leaders of Tunisia 

6 for their willingness to compromise and work to7 gether in the national interest; 


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•SRES 236 RS 

1 (3) condemns all acts of terrorism, and extends 

2 condolences to the families of victims of terrorism 

3 and to the people and Government of Tunisia; 

4 (4) commends the people and Government of 

5 Tunisia for their resilience in the face of terrorist at6 tacks and their enduring commitment to a free, 

7 democratic, and peaceful Republic of Tunisia; 

8 (5) encourages President Essebi, Head of Gov9 ernment Chahed, and the Parliament of Tunisia to 

10 work together to accelerate economic reforms and 

11 anti-corruption measures; 

12 (6) looks forward to new free and fair par13 liamentary and presidential elections scheduled for 

14 the last several months of 2019; 

15 (7) calls on the Government of Tunisia— 

16 (A) to fully implement the Tunisian Con17 stitution of 2014, including the protection of 

18 civil liberties and the establishment of new in19 stitutions, such as the Constitutional Court; 

20 (B) to continue its commitment to demo21 cratic accountability and transitional justice, in22 cluding with regard to corruption; 

23 (C) to continue decentralizing political 

24 power to local governments, which is a key step 

25 toward more accountable governance and a 


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•SRES 236 RS 

1 means to address long-standing issues of dra2 matic regional disparity in health care, edu3 cation, poverty, and infrastructure; and 

4 (D) to further develop its plan to identify, 

5 prosecute, deradicalize, or reintegrate into soci6 ety Tunisian fighters returned from abroad; 

7 (8) calls on the neighbors and partners of Tuni8 sia to work cooperatively with the Government of 

9 Tunisia to counter terrorist threats, secure borders, 

10 and support the democratic transition of Tunisia; 

11 (9) reaffirms the national interest of the United 

12 States in continued democracy in Tunisia, includ13 ing— 

14 (A) respect for the rule of law; 

15 (B) independent media; 

16 (C) a vibrant civil society; and 

17 (D) universal rights and freedoms, includ18 ing equal rights for all citizens and freedom of 

19 speech; 

20 (10) affirms the national interest of the United 

21 States in Tunisia’s economic prosperity and develop22 ment, including through increased foreign direct in23 vestment, tourism, entrepreneurship, technical co24 operation, and strengthened trade ties; 


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•SRES 236 RS 

1 (11) reaffirms the commitment of the United 

2 States Government to Tunisia, including a commit3 ment to provide appropriate levels of assistance, in 

4 support of the ongoing transition of Tunisia to an 

5 inclusive, prosperous, and secure democracy; 

6 (12) recognizes important partnerships, includ7 ing— 

8 (A) the U.S.-Tunisia Strategic Dialogue; 

9 (B) the U.S.-Tunisia Joint Military Com10 mission; 

11 (C) the U.S.-Tunisia Joint Economic Com12 mission; 

13 (D) the Tunisian American Enterprise 

14 Fund; and 

15 (E) international educational exchange 

16 programs, including the Fulbright Program and 

17 the Thomas Jefferson Scholars Program; 

18 (13) urges increased United States engagement 

19 and cooperation with the people and Government of 

20 Tunisia, including— 

21 (A) Tunisia’s democratic institutions; 

22 (B) civil society; 

23 (C) schools and universities; 

24 (D) independent media; and 

25 (E) the private sector; and 


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•SRES 236 RS 

1 (14) reaffirms the historic and continuing 

2 friendship between the people of the United States 

3 and the people of Tunisia. 


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Calendar No. 234 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 236 

RESOLUTION 

Reaffirming the strong partnership between Tunisia 

cratic reforms. of Tunisia in their continued pursuit of demoand the United States and supporting the people 

SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 

Reported without amendment 


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