MOROCCO: MOJ READY TO SET DATE FOR MLAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000819

SIPDIS

STATE FOR L/LEI AND NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2018
TAGS: CJAN PREL KJUS KCRM MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO: MOJ READY TO SET DATE FOR MLAT
NEGOTIATIONS

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Robert P. Jackson for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Ministry of Justice (MOJ) Secretary General
Mohammed Lididi said that discussions leading toward a
renegotiation of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT)
currently in force between the Government of Morocco (GOM)
and the USG are a "high priority" for his ministry. Although
Moroccan legal experts are unable to travel to the United
States in September to begin talks as originally planned,
Lididi proposed a visit by U.S. DOJ and State Department
counterparts to Morocco in late September, or a trip to the
U.S. by Moroccan MOJ officials during the second or third
week in November. He put forth four "key areas" around which
the GOM was interested in building the negotiations.
Lididi's support bodes will for the MLAT prospects. End
Summary.


2. (C) Moroccan treaty experts will not be able to travel to
the United States in September to discuss the renegotiation
of the MLAT currently in force between the GOM and USG, MOJ
Secretary General Mohammed Lididi (Deputy Secretary
equivalent) told LEGATT and PolOff on August 27. He
reiterated, however, his strong commitment to starting the
process despite the initial delay, and said it was a "high
priority" for his ministry and the GOM. He proposed a visit
by U.S. DOJ and State Department counterparts to Morocco in
late September, or a trip to the U.S. by Moroccan MOJ
officials during the second or third week in November.


3. (C) Lididi said that the types and levels of legal
cooperation between Morocco and the United States needed to
be formalized through a series of comprehensive accords
between the two governments. He emphasized that the GOM was
not asking for exceptional treatment, simply the same type of
updated formal recognition of legal procedures it has with
Spain, Canada, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and others.


4. (C) Lididi identified four "key areas" of interest for
the GOM:
a) Criminal and "penal" issues related to extraditions and
prisoner exchanges (including death penalty clauses);
b) Migration issues related to status and deportation of
illegal or clandestine migrants;
c) Family issues related to custody and child abduction cases;
d) "Full faith and credit" issues related to reciprocal
recognition of legal credentials for lawyers and medical
professionals, validity of marriages, and sworn statements
and certified documents, among others.


5. (C) Lididi recommended an exchange with the USG, prior to
whatever date is agreed upon for initial talks, with Morocco
providing examples of agreements the GOM has with countries
like Canada and the U.S. providing examples of similar
treaties with similarly situated Arab countries.


6. (C) Comment: The senior civil servant in the Ministry of
Justice, Lididi effectively runs the Ministry and, with a
minimally engaged political Minister, tends to set its
internal policies. He is known for his strong organizational
skills, decisive manner and short meetings (a rarity in the
Moroccan bureaucracy). The incumbent Minister of Justice has
no legal background and information received from NGOs
working on judicial reform, and even from other MOJ
officials, seems to indicate that the Minister leans heavily
on Lididi for advice, expertise, and direction, while major
policies tend to be set by the Palace. If Lididi is invested
in the MLAT discussion process, it will likely move forward
quickly and decisively. End Comment.


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Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
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Jackson