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

III 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 demo- cratic 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 Re- lations SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 Reported by Mr. RISCH, without amendment OCTOBER 29, 2019 Considered and agreed to 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 rec- ognize a sovereign Tunisia, following its independence from France in 1956; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:20 Oct 29, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR236.ATS SR236 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 SRES 236 ATS 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, Tuni- sians— (1) initiated a peaceful, consensus-based, and inclu- sive 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 inaugu- rated as the first freely elected President of Tunisia; Whereas, on October 9, 2015, the Norwegian Nobel Com- mittee 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 de- mocracy 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; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:20 Oct 29, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR236.ATS SR236 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 SRES 236 ATS Whereas the political evolution of Tunisia stands as an inspi- ration 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 lead- ers of Tunisia have reaffirmed their commitment to dia- logue, pluralism, and democracy; Whereas a significant number of Tunisian fighters for ex- tremist groups, including the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) reportedly returned to Tunisia, many clan- destinely, between 2011 and 2018; Whereas Tunisia continues to face serious threats to its secu- rity 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 counter- terrorism 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; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:20 Oct 29, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR236.ATS SR236 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 4 SRES 236 ATS Whereas the United States Government is committed to con- tinuing 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 con- sistent with the values of the United States, to support the aspirations of the people of Tunisia in developing a pluralist democracy and transparent, effective institu- tions; Whereas, in accordance with the United States-Tunisia stra- tegic 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 de- velopment in Tunisia; and (3) increased security cooperation to address com- mon 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 pros- perous nation: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) commends the people of Tunisia for their 2 commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and free 3 and fair elections; 4 (2) commends the political leaders of Tunisia 5 for their willingness to compromise and work to- 6 gether in the national interest; 7 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:20 Oct 29, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR236.ATS SR236 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 5 SRES 236 ATS (3) condemns all acts of terrorism, and extends 1 condolences to the families of victims of terrorism 2 and to the people and Government of Tunisia; 3 (4) commends the people and Government of 4 Tunisia for their resilience in the face of terrorist at- 5 tacks and their enduring commitment to a free, 6 democratic, and peaceful Republic of Tunisia; 7 (5) encourages President Essebi, Head of Gov- 8 ernment Chahed, and the Parliament of Tunisia to 9 work together to accelerate economic reforms and 10 anti-corruption measures; 11 (6) looks forward to new free and fair par- 12 liamentary and presidential elections scheduled for 13 the last several months of 2019; 14 (7) calls on the Government of Tunisia— 15 (A) to fully implement the Tunisian Con- 16 stitution of 2014, including the protection of 17 civil liberties and the establishment of new in- 18 stitutions, such as the Constitutional Court; 19 (B) to continue its commitment to demo- 20 cratic accountability and transitional justice, in- 21 cluding with regard to corruption; 22 (C) to continue decentralizing political 23 power to local governments, which is a key step 24 toward more accountable governance and a 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:20 Oct 29, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR236.ATS SR236 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 6 SRES 236 ATS means to address long-standing issues of dra- 1 matic regional disparity in health care, edu- 2 cation, poverty, and infrastructure; and 3 (D) to further develop its plan to identify, 4 prosecute, deradicalize, or reintegrate into soci- 5 ety Tunisian fighters returned from abroad; 6 (8) calls on the neighbors and partners of Tuni- 7 sia to work cooperatively with the Government of 8 Tunisia to counter terrorist threats, secure borders, 9 and support the democratic transition of Tunisia; 10 (9) reaffirms the national interest of the United 11 States in continued democracy in Tunisia, includ- 12 ing— 13 (A) respect for the rule of law; 14 (B) independent media; 15 (C) a vibrant civil society; and 16 (D) universal rights and freedoms, includ- 17 ing equal rights for all citizens and freedom of 18 speech; 19 (10) affirms the national interest of the United 20 States in Tunisia’s economic prosperity and develop- 21 ment, including through increased foreign direct in- 22 vestment, tourism, entrepreneurship, technical co- 23 operation, and strengthened trade ties; 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:20 Oct 29, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR236.ATS SR236 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 7 SRES 236 ATS (11) reaffirms the commitment of the United 1 States Government to Tunisia, including a commit- 2 ment to provide appropriate levels of assistance, in 3 support of the ongoing transition of Tunisia to an 4 inclusive, prosperous, and secure democracy; 5 (12) recognizes important partnerships, includ- 6 ing— 7 (A) the U.S.-Tunisia Strategic Dialogue; 8 (B) the U.S.-Tunisia Joint Military Com- 9 mission; 10 (C) the U.S.-Tunisia Joint Economic Com- 11 mission; 12 (D) the Tunisian American Enterprise 13 Fund; and 14 (E) international educational exchange 15 programs, including the Fulbright Program and 16 the Thomas Jefferson Scholars Program; 17 (13) urges increased United States engagement 18 and cooperation with the people and Government of 19 Tunisia, including— 20 (A) Tunisia’s democratic institutions; 21 (B) civil society; 22 (C) schools and universities; 23 (D) independent media; and 24 (E) the private sector; and 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:20 Oct 29, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR236.ATS SR236 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 8 SRES 236 ATS (14) reaffirms the historic and continuing 1 friendship between the people of the United States 2 and the people of Tunisia. 3 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:20 Oct 29, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR236.ATS SR236 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS