US SIGNS ANTI-TRAFFICKING AGREEMENT WITH TANZANIA

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000781 SIPDIS SIPDIS DOJ FOR BSCHLOZMAN, DOJ FOR TBELL, AF/E FOR BYODER, INL FOR EROESS, INL/HSTC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR KCRM AFIN PREL TZ SUBJECT: US SIGNS ANTI-TRAFFICKING AGREEMENT WITH TANZANIA REF: STATE 69014 ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 5. ¶2. (U) U.S. Ambassador Michael Retzer signed an amendment to a Letter of Agreement today with Public Safety and Security Permanent Secretary Bakari Mahiza. The agreement provides over USD one million in assistance to Tanzania for help in drafting comprehensive legislation regarding trafficking in persons (TIP),creating a TIP Task Force, and training for investigators, judges and prosecutors. Ambassador Retzer is hand-carrying the original document to Washington the week of May 15. ¶3. (U) The signature caps a four-week period of intense activity between post, the Government of Tanzania and Washington. President Kikwete indicated decisively late last month that he wished to see the agreement signed promptly, and wishes to initial the agreement at a ceremony during his visit to Washington. Kikwete expressed hope that this would take place at the conclusion of his meeting with Secretary Rice. ¶4. (U) The Permanent Secretary praised existing cooperation with the U.S., including help creating a forensic laboratory which he said will give Tanzania the best such lab in sub-Saharan Africa. He then thanked the Ambassador for the new U.S. assistance to combat trafficking in persons, saying the problem needed to be "arrested" now, while at modest levels, before it became "a menace" to Tanzania and Tanzanians. He thanked President Bush for making Tanzania a focus country and said Tanzania intends to become a "model" for the region in fighting trafficking in persons. ¶5. Action requested: President Kikwete has instructed his government to have new anti-trafficking in persons legislation on the books by October 2006, necessitating a draft be submitted to the Cabinet in July 2006. Consequently, the Justice Department will have to move forward promptly on the provision of technical assistance with the new bill. RETZER