MFA REACTION TO TIP TIER 3 RATING

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000859 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/17/2017 TAGS: PHUM KCRM KWMN PREL AG SUBJECT: MFA REACTION TO TIP TIER 3 RATING REF: STATE 81213 Classified By: Ambassador Robert Ford; reasons 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (C) Ambassador delivered reftel demarche June 16 to MFA Director General for the Americas Fatiha Selmane, who expressed surprise and discomfort that the 2007 Trafficking in Persons report placed Algeria in Tier 3 status. Selmane complained that Algeria had been pooled with countries that did nothing to address the issue at all. Differences between Algeria and the United States on trafficking, she said, were differences of semantics. She added that relevant laws were being revised. Selmane also highlighted Algeria's ratification of several international conventions addressing trafficking, noted that some law enforcement personnel received training on trafficking in persons, and referenced "regular press reports" regarding police crackdowns on trafficking networks. Selmane underscored the MFA's participation in the Algerian government's internal discussions on human rights and promised "not to ignore" the TIP report. ¶2. (C) Drawing from talking points, Ambassador stressed the importance of combating trafficking as well as the financial implications of Algeria's Tier 3 status. He called for official GOA acknowledgment of trafficking as a distinct problem separate from problems of child labor and prostitution. Selmane acknowledged that Algeria had no specific law against trafficking, commenting that the idea of trafficking does not exist in Algerian law, but she countered that Algeria has laws that could be used to deal with the issue. The Ambassador noted that the U.S. looked at trafficking not just as an issue of law on the books but also enforcement. He reminded Salmane that he had warned in February that lack information about arrests and prosecutions of persons involved in trafficking would cause problems. Salmane stated that the GoA does prosecute people but the Ambassador countered that the GoA had provided no relevant data despite our repeated requests. (The Ambassador told Salmane that the Ministry of Interior is a quote black box unquote and we hope the MFA will have more success extracting information from it.) The Ambassador also asked that the GoA designate a point of contact on the issue, and not just the America desk officer at the MFA. (Note: The current point of contact is the soon-to-depart desk officer for the U.S., who has been unable to provide substantive information on TIP. End note.) ¶3. (C) COMMENT: In the sometimes tense but cordial meeting, Selmane was genuinely dismayed at Algeria's Tier 3 status. She appears convinced that U.S.-Algeria differences on TIP are a matter of nuance, not substance. The Algerian government may have laws that can be used to combat trafficking, but there is no evidence that is it systematically doing anything in terms of prosecution or assistance to victims. We will continue to seek opportunities with senior government officials to push for action along the lines laid down in the TIP action plan for Algeria. We can be safely assured that progress with the Algerians will be slow. FORD