III 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 217 

Welcoming Prime Minister Youssef Chahed of the Tunisian Republic on 

his first official visit to the United States, congratulating the people 

of the Tunisian Republic on their embrace of democracy after decades 

of dictatorship, and encouraging future reforms. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 11, 2017 

Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. COONS, Mr. KAINE, Mr. MURPHY, 

Mr. MARKEY, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. 

PERDUE, Mr. COTTON, and Mr. MCCAIN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Welcoming Prime Minister Youssef Chahed of the Tunisian 

Republic on his first official visit to the United States, 

congratulating the people of the Tunisian Republic on 

their embrace of democracy after decades of dictatorship, 

and encouraging future reforms. 

Whereas, on December 17, 2010, Mohammad Bouazizi, a 

young fruit vendor in Sidi Bouzid, set himself on fire to 

protest his unjust treatment by the regime of Tunisian 

President Zine al Abidine Ben Ali, and in his death inspired the ‘‘Jasmine Revolution’’ in the Tunisian Republic and popular revolutions across the Arab world of citizens demanding transparency, reform, and representation; 


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•SRES 217 IS 

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 

initiated a peaceful, consensus-based, inclusive, and civilian-directed transition to democracy; 

Whereas, on January 26, 2014, the Tunisian Republic adopted its first constitution drafted by a democratically elected governing body, formally ending a period of transitional governments; 

Whereas the new constitution of the Tunisian Republic enshrines gender equality through enumerated rights and 

responsibilities, protects the rights of minorities, and specifically outlaws religiously motivated violence; 

Whereas, on October 26, 2014, the Tunisian Republic held 

its first parliamentary elections under the new constitution, which the international community praised as free 

and fair; 

Whereas, on December 31, 2014, after winning free and fair 

Presidential elections, Beiji Caid Essebsi was inaugurated 

as the first freely elected President of the Tunisian Republic; 

Whereas, on October 9, 2015, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet, 

a coalition of four civil society organizations, the 2015 

Nobel Peace Prize for the coalition’s work in building on 

the promise of the 2011 Jasmine Revolution and ensuring the transition of the Tunisian Republic into a democracy did not descend into violence; 

Whereas President Essebsi, Prime Minister Chahed, and 

other political leaders of the Tunisian Republic have 


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•SRES 217 IS 

formed a national unity government to work in the national interest of the Tunisian Republic; 

Whereas the political evolution of the Tunisian Republic 

stands as a model for citizens of other states aspiring to 

establish the institutions of democracy after a history of 

autocratic rule; 

Whereas, on March 18, 2015, a terrorist attack on the Bardo 

National Museum killed 21 people; 

Whereas, on July 26, 2015, a terrorist attack on a beach in 

the town of Sousse left 38 people, including 30 British 

nationals, dead, and dealt a blow to tourism in the Tunisian Republic, an important industry upon which the 

economy of the Tunisian Republic depends; 

Whereas a terrorist attack on November 24, 2015, on the 

Presidential Guard of the Tunisian Republic killed 12 

people; 

Whereas, in the aftermath of these attacks, citizens and leaders of the Tunisian Republic have reaffirmed their commitment to dialogue, pluralism, and democracy; 

Whereas the Tunisian Republic continues to face serious 

threats to its security from violent extremist groups operating within the Tunisian Republic as well as in neighboring countries; 

Whereas, in July 2015, the United States designated the Tunisian Republic as a major non-NATO ally; 

Whereas the Government of the Tunisian Republic, as a 

member of the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic 

State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), is seeking to reduce the 

significant number of Tunisian citizens who become foreign fighters for ISIS; 


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•SRES 217 IS 

Whereas the Tunisian Republic faces economic challenges, including high inflation and high unemployment, especially 

among young Tunisians; 

Whereas Prime Minister Chahed has committed to combating 

corruption and facilitating necessary economic reforms 

for the prosperity of the people of the Tunisian Republic; 

Whereas the United States Government is committed to continuing a strong economic partnership with the Tunisian 

Republic as the Government of the Tunisian Republic undertakes reforms to transform its economy to meet the 

aspirations of all citizens of the Tunisian Republic; 

Whereas it is the interest of the United States, and consistent with the values of the United States, to support 

the aspirations of the people of the Tunisian Republic in 

developing a pluralist democracy and transparent, effective institutions; 

Whereas the Governments and people of the United States 

and the Tunisian Republic have enjoyed friendly relations 

for more than 200 years; 

Whereas, in accordance with the U.S.–Tunisia Strategic 

Partnership, both countries are dedicated to working together to promote economic development and business 

opportunities in the Tunisian Republic, education for the 

advancement of long-term development in the Tunisian 

Republic, and increased security cooperation to address 

common threats in the Tunisian Republic and across the 

region; and 

Whereas the United States Government should provide a level 

of funding to strongly assist and reinforce the promising 

transition of the Tunisian Republic into a democratic, 

stable, and prosperous nation: Now, therefore, be it 


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•SRES 217 IS 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) welcomes Prime Minister Chahed on his 

3 first official visit to the United States; 

4 (2) commends the political leaders of the Tuni5 sian Republic for their willingness to compromise 

6 and work together in the national interest and form 

7 a national unity government; 

8 (3) reaffirms the commitment of the United 

9 States Government to the Tunisian Republic, includ10 ing a commitment to provide appropriate levels of 

11 assistance, in support of the ongoing transition of 

12 the Tunisian Republic to an inclusive, prosperous, 

13 and secure democracy; 

14 (4) condemns all acts of terrorism, and extends 

15 condolences to the families of victims of terrorism 

16 and to the people and Government of the Tunisian 

17 Republic; 

18 (5) commends the people and Government of 

19 the Tunisian Republic for their resilience in the face 

20 of terrorist attacks and their enduring commitment 

21 to a free, democratic, and peaceful Tunisian Repub22 lic; 

23 (6) encourages Prime Minister Chahed and the 

24 parliament of the Tunisian Republic to work toVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:47 Jul 12, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR217.IS SR217

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•SRES 217 IS 

1 gether to accelerate economic reforms and anti-cor2 ruption measures; 

3 (7) looks forward to the continued implementa4 tion of the 2014 constitution of the Tunisian Repub5 lic, including the new protections of civil liberties; 

6 (8) urges the authorities of the Tunisian Re7 public to continue to make every effort to prevent 

8 the continued flow of Tunisian jihadist ‘‘foreign 

9 fighters’’ to Syria and Iraq; 

10 (9) calls on the neighbors and partners of the 

11 Tunisian Republic to work in concert with the Gov12 ernment of the Tunisian Republic to counter ter13 rorist threats, secure borders, and support the demo14 cratic transition of the Tunisian Republic; 

15 (10) strongly urges the Government of the Tu16 nisian Republic to cease support for all resolutions 

17 and other measures that discriminate against or oth18 erwise target Israel in the United Nations Edu19 cation, Science, and Cultural Organization 

20 (UNESCO) and other United Nations organizations; 

21 and 

22 (11) reaffirms the historic and continuing 

23 friendship between the people of the United States 

24 and the people of the Tunisian Republic. 

Æ 


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