Cablegate: Tunisian Government Reorganization Of

R 141516Z OCT 97
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6783

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 TUNIS 005237

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINR PGOV TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIAN GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION OF
10/9/97: BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON NEW APPOINTEES

REF: TUNIS 5199

1. SUMMARY. THIS CABLE CONTAINS BIOGRAPHIC
INFORMATION ON NINE INDIVIDUALS TUNISIAN
PRESIDENT ZINE EL ABIDINE BEN ALI APPOINTED TO
GOVERNMENT POSITIONS ON OCTOBER 9, 1997 (REFTEL).
THEY ARE FOREIGN MINISTER SAID BEN MUSTAPHA,
INTERIOR MINISTER ALI CHAOUCH, AGRICULTURE
MINISTER SADOK RABEH, EDUCATION MINISTER RIDHA
FERCHIOU, PUBLIC WORKS MINISTER SLAHEDDINE
BELAID, INDUSTRY MINISTER MONCEF BEN ABDALLAH,
TRANSPORT MINISTER HASSINE CHOUK, SECRETARY OF
STATE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHARGED WITH
PUBLIC PARTICIPATIONS AISSA HIDOUSSI, AND
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE CHARGED WITH
HYDRAULIC RESOURCES AND FISHERIES AMEUR HORCHANI.
END SUMMARY.

SAID BEN MUSTAPHA, FOREIGN MINISTER .
-----------------------------------

2. SAID BEN MUSTAPHA WAS BORN JULY 28, 1938 IN
TUNIS, TUNISIA. HE EARNED A DEGREE IN ECONOMICS
AND A DIPLOMA FROM THE INSTITUT DES HAUTES ETUDES
INTERNATIONALES OF GENEVA IN 1961. HE BEGAN HIS
PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN 1962 AS A SECRETARY FOR
FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN THE FOREIGN MINISTRY. IN
OCTOBER 1963, HE WAS APPOINTED CONSUL IN
BENGHAZI, LIBYA. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE
ASIAN/NEAR EAST DESK AT THE FOREIGN MINISTRY IN
1967. HE WAS PROMOTED TO COUNSELOR OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS IN 1969.

3. IN 1970, BEN MUSTAPHA WAS ASSIGNED AS
TUNISIAN CHARGE D'AFFAIRES IN TRIPOLI, LIBYA. IN
1975, HE BECAME AN ATTACHE IN THE CABINET OF THE
FOREIGN MINISTER. AFTER SERVING AS TUNISIAN
CONSUL GENERAL IN LYON, HE WAS NAMED CONSUL
GENERAL IN PALERMO, ITALY ON DECEMBER 5, 1979.

4. BEN MUSTAPHA WAS PROMOTED TO MINISTER
PLENIPOTENTIARY IN 1981. ON NOVEMBER 29, 1982,
HE WAS APPOINTED AMBASSADOR TO LEBANON. ON
AUGUST 17, 1985, HE WAS ASSIGNED AS AMBASSADOR TO
JORDAN, WITH CONCURRENT ACCREDITATION TO LEBANON.
ON JUNE 18, 1988, HE WAS NAMED TUNISIAN HIGH
REPRESENTATIVE (AMBASSADOR) TO LIBYA.

5. ON NOVEMBER 1, 1991, BEN MUSTAPHA WAS
DESIGNATED SECRETARY OF STATE AT THE FOREIGN
MINISTRY RESPONSIBLE FOR MAGHREB AFFAIRS, THE
SECOND-RANKING OFFICIAL IN THE MINISTRY. BEN
MUSTAPHA HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A GRAND OFFICER OF
THE ORDER OF THE TUNISIAN REPUBLIC. ON MAY 9,
1997, HE WAS NAMED AMBASSADOR TO ITALY. HE IS
MARRIED AND THE FATHER OF THREE CHILDREN.

ALI CHAOUCH, INTERIOR MINISTER
------------------------------

6. ALI CHAOUCH WAS BORN ON JUNE 26, 1948 IN
BOURADA, TUNISIA. HE EARNED A DEGREE IN
ECONOMICS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TUNIS IN 1970.
HE BEGAN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER AS A CABINET
ATTACHE IN THE NATIONAL BUILDING COMPANY (SNIT)
FROM 1970 TO 1972. FROM 1972 TO 1981 HE WAS A
DIVISION HEAD AT SNIT.

7. IN 1981 AND 1982, HE WAS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
GENERAL OF THE PARASTATAL COMPANY FOR THE
PLANNING OF TUNIS. IN 1982, HE BECAME PRESIDENT
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE AGENCY FOR URBAN
REHABILITATION AND RENOVATION. ON NOVEMBER 21,
1987, CHAOUCH WAS APPOINTED GOVERNOR OF MEDENINE.
IN APRIL 1989, HE WAS NAMED PRESIDENT DIRECTOR
GENERAL OF THE HOUSING AGENCY. THE SAME YEAR, HE
BECAME A MEMBER OF THE TUNISIAN ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL COUNCIL.

8. ON NOVEMBER 19, 1991, CHAOUCH WAS APPOINTED
PERMANENT SECRETARY OF THE RULING DEMOCRATIC
CONSTITUTIONAL RALLY (RCD) POLITICAL PARTY
CHARGED WITH ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. ON
MARCH 12, 1992, HE BECAME RCD PERMANENT SECRETARY
CHARGED WITH STRUCTURES AND MOBILIZATION. ON
JULY 31, 1992, CHAOUCH WAS APPOINTED SECRETARY OF
STATE AT THE HEALTH MINISTRY. ON JUNE 14, 1993,
HE WAS NAMED MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND
HOUSING. HE WAS ELECTED A MEMBER OF THE RCD
CENTRAL COMMITTEE IN 1993. HE WAS ELECTED A
MEMBER OF TUNISIA'S NATIONAL LEGISLATURE, THE
CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES, IN 1994. CHAOUCH HAS BEEN
DESIGNATED GRAND OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF THE
TUNISIAN REPUBLIC AND GRAND OFFICER OF THE ORDER
OF NOVEMBER 7. HE IS MARRIED AND THE FATHER OF
THREE CHILDREN. HE HAS VISITED THE UNITED STATES
UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE US GOVERNMENT
INTERNATIONAL VISITOR PROGRAM.

SADOK RABEH, AGRICULTURE MINISTER
---------------------------------

9. SADOK RABEH WAS BORN ON JULY 9, 1948 IN
METOUIA, TUNISIA. UPON COMPLETION OF PRIMARY AND
SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDIES IN GABES AND IN TUNIS,
HE OBTAINED THE BACCALAUREATE IN MATHEMATICS IN
1967. THE FOLLOWING YEAR, HE JOINED THE
ENGINEERS' SCHOOL IN VERSAILLES, PRANCE. FROM
1967 TO 1969, HE STUDIED AT THE GRANDES ECOLES
D'INGENIEUR AT VERSAILLES, FRANCE. HE EARNED AN
ENGINEERING DEGREE FROM THE ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE
OF PARIS IN 1971 AND ANOTHER DEGREE IN
ENGINEERING STATISTICS AND ECONOMICS FROM THE
ECOLE NATIONALE DE LA STATISTIQUE ET DE
L'ADMINISTRATION ECONOMIQUE OF PARIS IN 1973.

10. RABEH STARTED HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN
1973-74 AS DIRECTOR OF STUDIES OF THE NATIONAL
ENGINEERS' SCHOOL OF TUNIS. FROM 1975 TO 1980,
HE WAS IN CHARGE OF STUDIES AND FINANCING AT THE
TUNISIAN ELECTRICITY AND GAS COMPANY (STEG).

11. IN 1981, RABEH WAS APPOINTED PRESIDENT
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE SEA-GAS STUDIES COMPANY.
IN 1983, HE SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF EXPLORATION AND
PRODUCTION OF HYDROCARBONS AT THE MINISTRY OF
ECONOMY. FROM 1984 TO 1987, HE WAS DIRECTOR
GENERAL FOR ENERGY OF THE ECONOMICS MINISTRY.
FROM 1987 TO JULY, 1988, HE SERVED AS PRESIDENT
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE TUNISIAN OIL COMPANY
(ETAP). ON JULY 26, 1988, HE WAS APPOINTED
MINISTER OF ENERGY AND MINES. ON APRIL 11, 1989,
HE WAS NAMED MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS.

12. ON FEBRUARY 20, 1991, RABEH WAS APPOINTED
MINISTER OF NATIONAL ECONOMY. ON JANUARY 24,
1995, HE BECAME MINISTER OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS. ON
JUNE 13, 1996, HE WAS APPOINTED AS MINISTER OF
TRANSPORTATION. RABEH IS ALSO PROFESSOR OF
STATISTICS AND ECONOMY AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF ENERGY. HE HAS BEEN A
MEMBER OF THE RCD CENTRAL COMMITTEE SINCE 1988.
HE HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A COMMANDER OF THE ORDER
OF THE TUNISIAN REPUBLIC. RABEH IS MARRIED AND
HAS THREE CHILDREN.

RIDHA FERCHIOU, EDUCATION MINISTER
----------------------------------

13. RIDHA FERCHIOU WAS BORN APRIL 8, 1945 IN
TUNIS, TUNISIA. HE RECEIVED A PH.D IN ECONOMICS
FROM MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY. HE SERVED AS AN
ECONOMICS PROFESSOR AT THE HIGHER INSTITUTE OF
COMMERCIAL STUDIES AND WAS ITS DIRECTOR FROM 1976
TO 1988.

14. IN 1988, HE WAS NAMED A COUNSELOR IN THE
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE. IN 1993,
FERCHIOU WAS NAMED DIRECTOR OF THE MINISTRY'S
HIGHER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGICAL STUDIES. IN
1995, HE BECAME CHIEF 0F STAFF OF THE MINISTRY OF
HIGHER EDUCATION. HE ATTENDED THE SALZBURG
SEMINAR IN JULY 1997, AT THE INVITATION OF THE
EMBASSY AND HAS VISITED THE UNITED STATES UNDER
THE AUSPICES OF THE US GOVERNMENT'S INTERNATIONAL
VISITOR PROGRAM. FERCHIOU HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A
CHEVALIER OF THE ORDER OF THE TUNISIAN REPUBLIC.
HE IS MARRIED AND THE FATHER OF TWO CHILDREN.

SLAHEDDINE BELAID, PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING
MINISTER
--------------------------------------------

15. (U) SLAHEDDINE BELAID WAS BORN NOVEMBER 13,
1939 IN JEMMAL, TUNISIA. HE RECEIVED AN
ENGINEERING DIPLOMA FROM THE ECOLE NATIONALE DES
PONTS ET CHAUSSEES IN PARIS IN 1962- HE BEGAN
HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN 1962 AS CHIEF OF THE
SECTION OF NEW PORT CONSTRUCTION. IN MARCH 1964,
BELAID WAS ASSIGNED TO THE SECRETARIAT OF STATE
FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO WORK AT THE ECONOMIC
COMMISSI0N FOR AFRICA. IN SEPTEMBER 1967, HE WAS
ASSIGNED TO THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL ECONOMY AS
DIRECTOR OF THE TOURISM PROJECT OF THE TUNISIAN
NATIONAL TOURISM OFFICE.

16. IN 1974 BELAID BECAME PRESIDENT DIRECTOR
GENERAL OF SONATRA-GET. ON FEBRUARY 6, 1988, HE
WAS APPOINTED CHARGE DE MISSION IN THE CABINET OF
THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING AND
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF BRID
GES AND ROADS.

17. IN FEBRUARY 1993, HE WAS NAMED DIRECTOR
GENERAL OF PLANNING, COOPERATION AND TRAINING IN
THE SAME MINISTRY. IN 1994, BELAID WAS APPOINTED
PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE LAKE OF TUNIS
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. BELAID HAS BEEN NAMED A
COMMANDER OF THE ORDER OF THE REPUBLIC. HE HAS
VISITED THE UNITED STATES UNDER THE AUSPICES OF
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S INTERNATIONAL VISITOR
PROGRAM. HE IS MARRIED AND THE FATHER OF ONE
CHILD.

MONCEF BEN ABDALLAH, INDUSTRY MINISTER
--------------------------------------

18. MONCEF BEN ABDALLAH WAS BORN OCTOBER 21,
1946 IN TUNIS, TUNISIA. HE RECEIVED A DEGREE IN
MATHEMATICS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TUNIS IN 1968
AND AN ENGINEERING DEGREE FROM THE ECOLE CENTRALE
IN PARIS IN 1972. HE BEGAN HIS PROFESSIONAL
CAREER AS A PRINCIPAL ENGINEER AT THE TUNISIAN
ELECTRIC AND GAS UTILITY COMPANY (STEG) IN 1972.
IN 1975 BEN ABDALLAH WAS NAMED CHARGE DE MISSION
IN THE CABINET OF THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL
ECONOMY, RISING TO TECHNICAL COUNSELOR AND, IN
1977, CHIEF OF STAFF. FROM 1977 TO 1979, HE WAS
DIRECTOR OF PARTICIPATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE
TUNISIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM AGENCY (ETAP). FROM
APRIL 1979 TO APRIL 1980, BEN ABDALLAH WORKED AT
THE MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, MINES AND ENERGY, FIRST
AS DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY THEN AS CHIEF OF STAFF.

19. IN OCTOBER 1980, HE WAS APPOINTED PRESIDENT
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE INVESTMENT PROMOTION
AGENCY. FROM NOVEMBER 1984 TO DECEMBER 1985, HE
SERVED AS TECHNICAL COUNSELOR FOR ECONOMIC
AFFAIRS TO THE PRIME MINISTER. BEN ABDALLAH
SERVED AS PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE
AGENCY FOR THE UTILIZATION OF ENERGY FROM
DECEMBER 1985 TO AUGUST 1991. HE NEXT SERVED AS
PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE CEMENT
CORPORATION OF ENFIDHA.

20. IN JUNE 1992, BEN ADBALLAH WAS APPOINTED
PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE TUNISIAN
ELECTRIC AND GAS UTILITY COMPANY (STEG). ON
APRIL 1, 1996, HE WAS NAMED SECRETARY OF STATE IN
THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHARGED WITH
THE RESTRUCTURING OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES. BEN
ABDALLAH HAS SERVED AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
TUNISIAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL SINCE 1994.
SINCE 1986, HE HAS BEEN AN INTERNATIONAL EXPERT
IN THE ENERGY FIELD ON THE ROSTERS OF THE WORLD
BANK AND UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. HE
HOLDS THE HONOR OF GRAND OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF
THE REPUBLIC. HE HAS VISITED THE UNITED STATES
UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S
INTERNATIONAL VISITOR PROGRAM. HE IS MARRIED AND
THE FATHER OF THREE CHILDREN.

HASSINE CHOUK, TRANSPORT MINISTER
---------------------------------

21. HASSINE CHOUK WAS BORN ON DECEMBER 2, 1946
IN NEFTA, TUNISIA. HE RECEIVED A MATHEMATICS
DEGREE FROM THE SCIENCE FACULTY OF TUNIS IN 1969
AND A DIPLOMA IN AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING FROM
THE ECOLE NATIONALE DE L'AERONAUTIQUE ET DE
L'ESPACE OF TOULOUSE, FRANCE IN 1972. CHOUK
BEGAN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN JULY 1972 AS A
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER IN CHARGE OF
TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN THE TUNISIAN METEOROLOGICAL
SERVICE. ON APRIL 19, 1973 HE WAS ASSIGNED TO
THE TUNISIAN NATIONAL AIRLINE TUNISAIR AS
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER IN CHARGE OF AVIONICS AND
FLIGHT INSTRUMENTATION. ON FEBRUARY 1, 1975,
CHOUK WAS ASSIGNED TO THE NAVIGABILITY
INSPECTORATE OF THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND
COMMUNICATIONS; HE BECAME AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
IN DECEMBER 1975.

22. CHOUK WAS PROMOTED TO THE GRADE OF ENGINEER
IN CHIEF IN JULY 1980. IN DECEMBER 1981, HE
BECAME DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL OF CIVIL AVIATION
AND METEOROLOGY. ON NOVEMBER 25, 1987, CHOUK WAS
NAMED PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL
CORPORATION FOR INTERURBAN TRANSPORTATION
(SNTRI). HE WAS PROMOTED TO THE GRADE OF GENERAL
ENGINEER IN 1988.

23. IN SEPTEMBER 1990, CHOUK WAS APPOINTED
PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE TUNISIAN OFFICE
OF AIRPORTS. IN AUGUST 1996, HE BECAME PRESIDENT
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE TUNISIAN NAVIGATION
COMPANY. CHOUK HAS SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE
SHIPBUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF TUNIS AND THE
SOUTHERN FRANCE/TUNISIA MARITIME ASSOCIATION. HE
HAS BEEN PRESIDENT OF THE BAB EL KHADRA BRANCH OF
THE RULING DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTIONAL RALLY (RCD)
POLITICAL PARTY. HE HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AN
OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF THE TUNISIAN REPUBLIC.
CHOUK IS MARRIED AND THE FATHER OF 3 CHILDREN.

AISSA HIDOUSSI, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CHARGED WITH PUBLIC PARTICIPATIONS
--------------------------------------------- --

24. AISSA HIDOUSSI WAS BORN MAY 6, 1948 IN
MEDJEZ EL BAB, TUNISIA. HE HOLDS A DIPLOMA AND
THIRD CYCLE CERTIFICATE FROM THE HIGHER INSTITUTE
OF MANAGEMENT. FROM 1970 TO 1972 HE WAS A
FOUNDING MEMBER AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR OF THE
TUNIS REAL ESTATE EXCHANGE. FROM 1972 TO 1980 HE
WAS DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURAL CREDIT AT THE
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND.

25. FROM 1980 TO 1983 HIDOUSSI WAS AN IMF SENIOR
EXPERT. IN 1983, HE WAS NAMED ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
BANK. IN 1987, HE WAS APPOINTED PRESIDENT
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE TUNISIAN/UNITED ARAB
EMIRATES INVESTMENT BANK.

26. FROM 1992 TO 1994, HIDOUSSI WAS DIRECTOR
GENERAL OF THE ARAB MAGHREB COOPERATION BANK. IN
1995, HE WAS APPOINTED PRESIDENT DIRECTOR GENERAL
OF THE UNION INTERNATIONALE DE BANQUES (UIB). HE
IS ALSO A PROFESSOR AT THE INSTITUTE OF FINANCE
AND DEVELOPMENT (IFID). HIDOUSSI IS A MEMBER OF
THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RULING
CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRATIC RALLY (RCD) POLITICAL
PARTY. HE SERVED AS MAYOR OF MEDJEZ EL BAB FROM
1985 TO 1990. HE HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AN OFFICER
OF THE ORDER OF THE TUNISIAN REPUBLIC. HE IS
MARRIED AND THE FATHER OF THREE CHILDREN.

AMEUR HORCHANI, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR
AGRICULTURE CHARGED WITH HYDRAULIC RESOURCES AND
FISHERIES
--------------------------------------------- ---

27. AMEUR HORCHANI WAS BORN OCTOBER 23, 1937 IN
DEGACHE, TUNISIA. HE HOLDS A DEGREE IN
ENGINEERING AND A DIPLOMA IN NUCLEAR MANAGEMENT
FROM THE ECOLE SUPERIEURE D'HYDRAULIQUE OF
GRENOBLE, FRANCE. HE BEGAN HIS PROFESSIONAL
CAREER IN OCTOBER 1967 AS A PRINCIPAL ENGINEER AT
THE AGRICULTURE MINISTRY. HE BECAME AN ENGINEER
IN CHIEF IN JUNE 1975. IN JUNE 1978, HE WAS
APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF STUDIES OF HYDRAULIC
PROJECTS.

28. HORCHANI WAS PROMOTED TO GENERAL ENGINEER IN
1983. IN 1987, HE WAS NAMED DIRECTOR GENERAL OF
THE HYDRAULIC PROJECTS DEPARTMENT. ON APRIL 11,
1988, HE WAS APPOINTED SECRETARY OF STATE FOR
AGRICULTURE CHARGED WITH HYDRAULIC RESOURCES. ON
JULY 16, 1988, HE BECAME SECRETARY OF STATE FOR
AGRICULTURE CHARGED WITH FISHERIES AND HYDRAULIC
RESOURCES. ON APRIL 11, 1989, HORCHANI WAS NAMED
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE CHARGED WITH
HYDRAULIC RESOURCES. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE
CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RULING CONSTITUTIONAL
DEMOCRATIC RALLY (RCD) POLITICAL PARTY FROM JULY
1988 TO AUGUST 1, 1993. HE HAS VISITED THE UNITED
STATES UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT'S INTERNATIONAL VISITOR PROGRAM.

LITTREL

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