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