VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHTU #0036 0151737
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151737Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7156
INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS TUNIS 000036
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR TS
SUBJECT: BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION FOR NEW TUNISIAN CABINET MEMBERS
REF: TUNIS 34
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Summary
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1. (U) This cable contains biographic highlights for the Ministers
named in President Ben Ali's January 14 Cabinet shuffle. Out of 27
total cabinet ministers, there are six new names and six have been
rotated from one cabinet position to another. Eight ministers were
dismissed from the Cabinet.
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New Cabinet Members
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2. Mr. Mohamed Ridha CHALGHOUM: Minister of Finance. Born in Gafsa
in 1962. Last position: President of the Financial Market Council
(equivalent to the Securities Exchange Commission). Education:
Degree in Economic Science and DES (postgraduate) in Development
Finance
-- Mr. Naceur GHARBI: Minister of Social Affairs, Solidarity and
Tunisians Abroad. Last position: Chief of the Executive Office of
the CNAM (The National Health Insurance Fund). No other biographic
information immediately available.
-- Mrs. Bebia CHIHI: Minister of Women's Affairs, Family, Children
and Senior Citizens. Born in 1952 in Tunis. Last position: Chief of
the Executive Office of SNDP, Agil (Oil Company). Education: Law
Degree and two postgraduate degrees from the Paris Customs Institute
and the Tunisian National Administration School.
-- Mohamed AGREBI: Minister of Vocational Training and Employment.
Born in 1961 in Nabeul. Last position: Director General of the
Department of the Promotion of Small and Medium-sized Companies at
the Industry Ministry. Education: MA in Financial Management, PhD
in Financial Management from the Tunis Economic Science University.
-- Rifaat CHAABOUNI: Secretary of State (Deputy Minister) for
Scientific Research. Born in Rades in 1947. Last position:
Director of the Prospects, Planning and Evaluation department at the
Scientific Research ministry. Education: MA in Physics from Tunis
University and PhD in Chemistry and PhD in Science from Lyon
University, France.
-- Mr. Mohamed Naceur AMMAR: Minister of Communication Technologies,
university professor and administrator. No other biographic
information immediately available.
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Ministers Moved From Previous Positions
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3. Kamel MORJANE: Foreign Minister. Born in 1948 in Hammam-Sousse
(also President Ben Ali's home town). Last position: Defense
Minister. Education: Law degree from the Geneva Institute of
International Higher Studies; degrees from the University of
Wisconsin and from The Hague International Law Academy.
-- Lazhar BOUOUNI: Minister of Justice and Human Rights. Born in
1948 in Redayaf, Gafsa. Last position: Minister of Higher
Education. Education: Law degree (PhD).
-- Ridha GRIRA: Minister of National Defense. Born in 1955 in
Sousse. Last position: Minister of State Properties and Real
Estate. Education: Law, economy and management degrees from Paris
University. Engineering degree from the Paris Central School.
-- Bechir TEKKARI: Minister of Higher Education. Born in 1952 in
Ksibet, Mediouni. Last position: Justice and Human Rights Minister.
Education: Law degree and postgraduate degree in law and political
science.
-- Slim TLATLI: Tourism Minister. Born in 1951. Last position:
Minister of Employment. Education: MA in Mathematics from Tunis
University and MA in Mathematics from Grenoble University, France.
-- Zouheir M'DHAFFAR: Minister of State Properties and Real Estate.
Born in 1948 in Sfax. Last position: Executive in Civil Service and
Administrative Development. Education: PhD in public law and
political science.
GRAY