POTENTIAL U.S.-EU COOPERATION ON JUDICIAL TRAINING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000976 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2019 TAGS: EUN IZ PREL SOCI PHUM PINS SUBJECT: POTENTIAL U.S.-EU COOPERATION ON JUDICIAL TRAINING INSIDE IRAQ REF: A. BAGHDAD 722 ¶B. USEU 733 Classified By: A/Political Minister Counselor Mary T. Curtin for reason 1.4b/d ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: European Union standing reluctance to work with the U.S. in Iraq now seems to be evolving into eagerness to cooperate. EU officials working on the EU's integrated Rule of Law mission in Iraq, EUJUST LEX, are ready to join us in providing judicial training in Iraq. After a positive recent experience working with Embassy Baghdad to present a judicial seminar to Iraqi judges in Dhi Qar province, EUJUST LEX leaders responsible for judicial training are now considering how to provide personnel and funding to support U.S. efforts to assist Iraq's Judicial Education and Development Institute. EUJUST LEX officials hope to work with counterparts from Embassy Baghdad in the near future on finalizing plans for the next phase of EUJUST LEX operations. END SUMMARY ¶2. (C) USEU officer met with EUJUST LEX Judiciary program leaders Miguel Casan Llopis and Roxana Comsa on July 10 to learn about the results of the EUJUST LEX pilot program (Ref B) for conducting operations in Iraq, as well as plans for the next phase of EUJUST LEX operations. The EU officials began by noting that the EU had recently taken major steps forward in political willingness to work with the U.S. in Iraq. Casan Llopis pointed out that the latest "Joint Action," adopted by EU Foreign Ministers on June 11 that authorized EUJUST LEX operations until June 30, 2009, had explicitly called on EUJUST LEX to be "complementary and bring added value to the efforts of the government of Iraq and the international community, in particular those of the United Nations and the United States of America." According to the EU officials, this was the first time since EUJUST LEX's creation that it had been mandated to cooperate with United States. ¶3. (SBU) The EU officials reiterated their appreciation for Embassy Baghdad's assistance in facilitating the recent judicial seminar conducted for Iraqi jurists in Dhi Qar province. They said that not only logisitic support, but participation by U.S. officials in the seminar had helped ensure its success. They were now hoping to deepen U.S.-EU cooperation on Rule of Law training. Casan Llopis said that EUJUST LEX was ready to cooperate with the U.S. on providing legal education for entry-level judges and prosecutors as well as continuing legal training for experienced practitioners. He said that the EU could support U.S. efforts to assist the Judicial Education and Development Institute (JEDI),a recently established professional development institute for judges, attorneys and court officials, by "helping to share costs" and contributing EU experts and specialized instruction on EU best practices. Casan Llopis said the EU might be able to provide both funding and personnel to support JEDI's legal instruction. ¶4. (SBU) Casan Llopis wondered whether the U.S. was open to increasing cooperation with the EUJUST LEX. He said he hoped to coordinate closely with counterparts in Embassy Baghdad before finalizing the EU's program in the coming weeks. He noted that EU officials working with the U.S. might require security and logistic support. Once he had a clear indication of U.S. willingness to work closely together, Llopis said, he would brief the Iraqi High Judicial Council's Judge Medhat and begin to finalize EUJUST LEX future plans for the judicial sector. ¶5. (C) EUJUST LEX plans for judicial training have not yet been finalized, Casan Llopis said. Other than working with the U.S. on the JEDI project, concepts receiving serious consideration included holding a large conference or seminar in Northern Iraq in the fall and helping the Iraqis to develop a long-term strategic plan for the Judiciary. He conceded that Judge Medhat showed little enthusiasm for the latter idea. Casan Llopis noted that EUJUST LEX will continue to offer Iraqi jurists training in Europe and in regional states with better developed judicial BRUSSELS 00000976 002 OF 002 infrastructure, such as Dubai, so that Iraqi jurists can gain exposure to more modern and professional court administration practices. He said that 600 of Iraq's 1,200 judges had already been to Europe for training. .