ALGERIA OPEN TO DISCUSS TIP LAW IMPLEMENTATION

UNCLAS ALGIERS 000563 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR G/TIP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KTIP ELAB KCRM KPAO KWMN PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG AG SUBJECT: ALGERIA OPEN TO DISCUSS TIP LAW IMPLEMENTATION ASSISTANCE REF: STATE 60499 ¶1. (SBU) Charge delivered reftel non-paper and the 2009 TIP Report country narrative for Algeria to MFA American Affairs Director General Fatiha Selmane the afternoon of June 15. Selmane said the government took seriously USG recommendations for Algeria contained in the 2008 TIP Report, and underscored Algeria's efforts during the past year to elaborate a law criminalizing TIP. Selmane recognized that the implementation of the law needed to be a priority for next year. As to Algeria's ranking on the Tier 2 Watch List, Selmane expressed her appreciation that this year's report considered Algeria's ongoing efforts to combat TIP. ¶2. (SBU) Charge explained the new requirement for an interim assessment of Algeria's progress in addressing 2009 recommendations in the report, and argued that the publication of Algeria's TIP law in the official gazette was an example of a constructive interim step the government might take. Charge also previewed to Selmane recent progress in reaching an agreement to authorize a bilateral judicial assistance program with the Ministry of Justice. He told Selmane that the judicial training envisioned could include training to assist Algeria's implementation of the new TIP law, a proposal justice ministry officials had welcomed. Selmane remarked that the judicial assistance program was a healthy indicator of our countries' broadening bilateral cooperation in many areas, including efforts to combat TIP. DAUGHTON