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EMBASSY/CONSULATE ADDRESSES

Diplomatic Representation in US:
Ambassador: Mohamed Salah Tekaya
Embassy: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850
Fax: (202) 862-1858

US Diplomatic Representation:
Ambassador: Gordon Gray
Embassy: Les Berges du Lac 1053 Tunis, Tunisia
Mailing Address: Use embassy street address
Telephone: 216-71-107-000
Fax: 216-71-107-090

Embassy Web Sites for Tunisia
Permanent Mission of Tunisia to the United Nations in New York

U.S Embassy Web Site in Tunisia


FOREIGN RELATIONS

President Ben Ali has maintained Tunisia's long-time policy of seeking good relations with the West, including the United States, while playing an active role in Arab and African regional bodies. President Bourguiba took a nonaligned stance but emphasized close relations with Europe and the United States.

Tunisia has long been a voice for moderation and realism in the Middle East. President Bourguiba was the first Arab leader to call for the recognition of Israel, in a speech in Jericho in 1965. Tunisia served as the headquarters of the Arab League from 1979 to 1990 and hosted the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) headquarters from 1982 to 1993. (The PLO Political Department remains in Tunis.) Tunisia consistently has played a moderating role in the negotiations for a comprehensive Middle East peace. In 1993, Tunisia was the first Arab country to host an official Israeli delegation as part of the Middle East peace process. The Government of Tunisia operated an Interests Section in Israel from April 1996 until the outbreak of the second Intifada in 2000. Israeli citizens may travel to Tunisia on their Israeli passports.

Wedged between Algeria and Libya, Tunisia has sought to maintain good relations with its neighbors despite occasionally strained relations. Tunisia and Algeria resolved a longstanding border dispute in 1993 and have cooperated in the construction of a natural gas pipeline through Tunisia that connects Algeria to Italy. In 2002, Tunisia signed an agreement with Algeria to demarcate the maritime frontier between the two countries.

Tunisia's relations with Libya have been erratic since Tunisia annulled a brief agreement to form a union in 1974. Diplomatic relations were broken in 1976, restored in 1977, and deteriorated again in 1980, when Libyan-trained rebels attempted to seize the town of Gafsa. In 1982, the International Court of Justice ruled in Libya's favor in the partition of the oil-rich continental shelf it shares with Tunisia. Libya's 1985 expulsion of Tunisian workers and military threats led Tunisia to sever relations. Relations were normalized again in 1987. While supporting the UN sanctions imposed following airline bombings, Tunisia has been careful to maintain positive relations with her neighbor. Tunisia supported the lifting of UN sanctions against Libya in 2003, and Libya is again becoming a major trading partner, with 2009 exports to Libya valued at $830.8 million and imports at $559 million.

Tunisia has supported the development of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), which includes Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, and Libya. Progress on Maghreb integration remains stymied, however, as a result of bilateral tensions between some member countries. Tunisia has played a positive role in trying to resolve these tensions.

U.S.-TUNISIAN RELATIONS
The United States has very good relations with Tunisia, which date back more than 200 years. The United States has maintained official representation in Tunis almost continuously since 1795, and the American Friendship Treaty with Tunisia was signed in 1799. The two governments are not linked by security treaties, but relations have been close since Tunisia's independence. U.S.-Tunisian relations suffered briefly after the 1985 Israeli raid on PLO headquarters in Tunis, after the 1988 Tunis assassination of PLO terrorist Abu Jihad, and in 1990 during the Gulf War. In each case, however, relations warmed again quickly, reflecting strong bilateral ties. The United States and Tunisia have an active schedule of joint military exercises. U.S. security assistance historically has played an important role in cementing relations. The U.S.-Tunisian Joint Military Commission meets annually to discuss military cooperation, Tunisia's defense modernization program, and other security matters.

The United States first provided economic and technical assistance to Tunisia under a bilateral agreement signed March 26, 1957. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) managed a successful program until its departure in 1994, when Tunisia's economic advances led to the country's "graduation" from USAID funding. Tunisia enthusiastically supported the U.S.-North African Economic Partnership (USNAEP), designed to promote U.S. investment in, and economic integration of, the Maghreb region. The program provided over $4 million in assistance to Tunisia between 2001 and 2003. The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) was launched in 2002 and incorporated the former USNAEP economic reform projects while adding bilateral and regional projects for education reform, civil society development, and women's empowerment. In 2004, the MEPI Regional Office opened in Embassy Tunis. The Regional Office is staffed by American diplomats and regional specialists. It is responsible for coordinating MEPI activities in Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia in close coordination with the American Embassies in those countries. The United States also supports Tunisia's civil society and economic development through bilateral Economic Support Funds programs.

American private assistance has been provided liberally since independence by foundations, religious groups, universities, and philanthropic organizations. The U.S. Government has supported Tunisia's efforts to attract foreign investment. The United States and Tunisia concluded a bilateral investment treaty in 1990 and an agreement to avoid double taxation in 1989.

American firms seeking to invest in Tunisia and export to Tunisia can receive insurance and financing for their business through U.S. Government agencies, including the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the Export-Import Bank. The best prospects for foreigners interested in the Tunisian market are in high technology, energy, agribusiness, food processing, medical care and equipment, and the environmental and tourism sectors.

Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Gordon Gray
Deputy Chief of Mission--Natalie E. Brown
Political/Economic Counselor--Ian McCary
Commercial Attache--Isabel Rioja-Scott

The U.S. Embassy in Tunisia is located in Les Berges du Lac 1053 Tunis, Tunisia (tel: 216-71-107-000, fax: 216-71-107-090).


TRAVEL ADVISORIES

To obtain the latest Travel Advisory Information for Tunisia check the U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheet.


TRAVEL TIPS

Driving U.S Driving Permit accepted
Currency (TND) Tunisian Dinar
Electrical 230 Volts
Telephones Country Code 216, City Code, Tunis 71+6D, Nabeul 72+6D, Sousse 73+6D



Customs and currency: Visas are not required of U.S. tourists visiting the country for up to four months. Firearms are carefully controlled, but there are no unusual customs restrictions. Tunisian dinars may not be imported or exported, but foreign currency, including dollars, may be imported; departing travelers may take out the amounts they brought in and any other foreign currency certified to have been legally acquired in Tunisia.

Health: Tunisia has no particular health hazards, but tapwater is not potable in certain seasons in Tunisia.


CUSTOMS/DUTIES

Tobacco...................400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500g of tobacco

Liquor......................1 litre of spirits or 2 litres of alcoholic beverage

Perfume...................250ml of perfume; 1 litre of eau de toilette

Gifts.........................Duty free allowance up to td100

Cameras..................1 still camera

Currency..................Import/export of local currency prohibited

Agriculture items.....Refer to Consulate

Restricted Items: The export of antiques is subject to a permit from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. Pets require a certificate of health from veterinary authorities in the departure country confirming that no contagious diseases occurred at place of origin for six weeks before departure. Cats and dogs also require a rabies vaccination certificate and must have been vaccinated between one and six months prior to departure.

Prohibited Items : Firearms (unless for hunting), explosives, drugs, obscene publications, forged books, all narcotic products, walkie-talkies, any other produce which may be regarded as dangerous to public security, health, morality, etc.



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