In response to media reports about the announcement from the U.S. ambassador to Tunisia Jake Walles about future loan guarantees to Tunisia, the U.S. Embassy in Tunis published a statement in which she provided the following clarification:
Ambassador Walles and Minister of Finance Fakhfakh held a private meeting on July 10 to discuss a number of bilateral issues, including a request from the Government of Tunisia for the U.S. Government to provide additional loan guarantees for Tunisia in 2013.
The statement indicates that Ambassador Walles explained to the Minister that while the United States remains a committed partner for Tunisia in this critical phase of its transition to democracy, no decision on loan guarantees has been made and the subject remains under consideration, adding that the U.S. looks forward to continuing discussions with the Government of Tunisia on this subject.
