CONTINUING TO ENGAGE GOA ON LEGAL REFORM AND TIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 001114

SIPDIS


SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2017
TAGS: PHUM KWMN KCRM PREL AG
SUBJECT: CONTINUING TO ENGAGE GOA ON LEGAL REFORM AND TIP

REF: ALGIERS 1099

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Thomas F. Daughton;
reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: As part of GOA efforts on legal reform,
Justice Minister Belaiz supports ABA's work in Algeria,
stressing the need to train judges. Further, the justice and
foreign ministries, along with the Ministry of National
Solidarity, now appear to be working on TIP-related issues,
including changes to Algerian laws to penalize trafficking in
persons. END SUMMARY.

LEGAL REFORM
--------------


2. (C) In a July 29 meeting with Justice Minister Tayeb
Belaiz, the Ambassador said the U.S. wanted to support
judicial reform in Algeria. He highlighted our impression
that both judges and lawyers needed better training. Legal
reform in Algeria could be realized if judges were better
trained, Belaiz responded. He also expressed support for
proposed MEPI-funded work by the American Bar Association
(ABA) in Algeria. When told ABA planned to open an
in-country office in September 2007, Belaiz suggested
creation of an ABA-MOJ discussion group to clarify ABA's
scope of work in Algeria. He named Abdelouahab Hamed
(Cabinet Advisor) as the point of contact, and recommended
the group meet in early September. Belaiz appeared initially
uncomfortable with ABA working with Algerian bar
associations. The Ambassador emphasized that the
professional standards and norms of Algerian lawyers needed
to be higher, and that part of the ABA program was aimed at
that issue. Belaiz eventually agreed.

TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
--------------


3. (C) The Ambassador told Belaiz that trafficking in Algeria
was a real and serious concern for the U.S. Belaiz
acknowledged the negative GOA reaction to the June 2007 TIP
report and, reacting to Ambassador's references to the
financial implications of Tier-3 status, said U.S.-Algeria
relations were not constrained by money. Belaiz said GOA
intended to amend existing laws to punish trafficking in
persons. He stressed that the laws would specifically
mention trafficking. (NOTE: Separately, MOJ's Mohamed Amara
said the work would be concluded by the end of 2007.) Belaiz
spoke of an interministerial working group charged with
dealing with TIP. Representatives of MOJ, MFA and the
Ministry of National Solidarity (MNS; similar to U.S. Health
and Human Services) are included.

COMMENT
--------------


4. (C) While the GOA is still annoyed about the June 2007
release of the TIP report, we now have some indication the
Algerian government will be addressing the trafficking issue.
To that end, MOJ and the MNS have emerged as official
channels through which change can occur. Our anti-TIP
strategy includes continued engagement with both ministries,
as well as with media and NGOs.
DAUGHTON