Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BEIRUT114
2010-02-04 15:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
JUSTICE MINISTER NAJJAR ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS,
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000114
SIPDIS
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO DOJ/OIA DAVID WARNER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL KTIP KJUS PHUM KWMN PREF EAID SY
FR, LE
SUBJECT: JUSTICE MINISTER NAJJAR ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS,
MLAT, AND SPECIAL TRIBUNAL
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000114
SIPDIS
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO DOJ/OIA DAVID WARNER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL KTIP KJUS PHUM KWMN PREF EAID SY
FR, LE
SUBJECT: JUSTICE MINISTER NAJJAR ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS,
MLAT, AND SPECIAL TRIBUNAL
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar informed the
Ambassador on February 3 that he had forwarded a draft
trafficking in persons law to the cabinet for approval, a
step needed before it goes to a parliamentary vote. He did
not expect the draft to face political opposition. His
ministry is interested in signing a Mutual Legal Assistance
Treaty with the U.S., Najjar said, noting the bilateral legal
agreement signed with France during Prime Minister Hariri's
January visit to Paris. On domestic politics, Najjar feared
that Syria and its allies would take advantage of PM Hariri's
desire to "rule by friendship" to strengthen their power.
Najjar also discussed the ongoing visit of Special Tribunal
for Lebanon (STL) Presiding Judge Antonio Cassese, who
predicted to the Ambassador that the STL would issue
indictments by the end of 2010. End summary.
TIP LAW REFERRED TO THE CABINET FOR APPROVAL
--------------
2. (C) Justice Minister Najjar told the Ambassador in a
February 3 meeting that, after studying the draft trafficking
in persons (TIP) law, he had recently approved it for
transmission to the cabinet for a vote. If the law appeared
on the cabinet's February 5 agenda and was approved, he said,
it would then pass to parliament for study by the judiciary
committee headed by MP Robert Ghanem before a vote was
scheduled. The key step in maintaining momentum on the bill,
he outlined, was to ensure that Minister of State for
Parliamentary Affairs Michel Pharaon expedited transfer of
the bill from the cabinet to parliament. Once parliament
voted the TIP bill into law, it would be published in the
official gazette before the Justice Ministry (MOJ) determined
how to implement it. After that, the MOJ would conduct
training to sensitize judges and prosecutors to the new law.
Although one would not expect a TIP law to be controversial,
Najjar clarified, other legislation such as a law protecting
female victims of violence had earlier stalled in the cabinet
due to unforeseen opposition.
MLAT AND ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE WELCOMED
--------------
3. (C) Najjar proposed that the U.S. and the GOL study the
possibility of signing a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty
(MLAT). During Prime Minister Saad Hariri's January visit to
Paris, the two countries had signed a bilateral legal
agreement, he noted. Najjar provided the Ambassador with a
copy of the French agreement. Najjar also welcomed USAID
assistance to the MOJ. The upcoming inauguration of the
USAID-supported model court was important, he underscored,
because it showed the value of the rule of law to citizens.
The MOJ was considering constructing a "judiciary city" to
centralize its activities, and he said that he would approach
the Embassy and other donors for financial support when plans
were finalized.
NEW GOVERNMENT DYNAMICS
--------------
4. (C) Although he called PM Hariri "the man for the
situation" who sought stability and normalized relations with
his opponents, Najjar criticized President Michel Sleiman for
"doing his best to help" Syria's Lebanese allies. His fear,
Najjar said, was that Syria and its allies would take
advantage of Hariri's generosity and Sleiman's weakness to
increase their power during the current political truce.
Hariri's desire to "rule by friendship" is "something new
that we must adapt to," Najjar added.
STL JUDGE PREDICTS INDICTMENTS IN 2010
--------------
5. (C) Regarding the ongoing visit to Beirut of STL Presiding
Judge Antonio Cassese, Najjar indicated that the STL would
need to sign a memorandum of understanding with the GOL to
formalize the procedures for any trials that would be held.
Najjar, who took a wait-and-see approach to the possibility
of indictments, described Cassese as "discovering Lebanon and
the Lebanese" during his visit. He also welcomed the
opportunity to send Lebanese lawyers and judges to visit the
STL's headquarters in the Hague.
6. (C) Cassese met with ambassadors of countries on the STL
managing committee earlier the same day to provide an
overview of STL progress since its inception in March 2009.
The STL's budget is adequate, Cassese said, and he reported
that Russia would join the management committee once it upped
its contribution from $500,000 to $1 million. On prospects
for progress, Cassese revealed his hope that indictments
would be issued by the end of 2010 and reported continued
support from the Lebanese leaders he had briefed, including
President Sleiman and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. While
Cassese said that he would undertake outreach to the Lebanese
public on the role of the STL and the possible timing of its
activities, he has not yet publicly mentioned the 2010
timeline for indictments.
7. (C) COMMENT: Although we are not as optimistic as Najjar
on the timeline for passing the draft TIP law, such a law
would finally provide the GOL the legal framework to
prosecute TIP crimes.
SISON
SIPDIS
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO DOJ/OIA DAVID WARNER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL KTIP KJUS PHUM KWMN PREF EAID SY
FR, LE
SUBJECT: JUSTICE MINISTER NAJJAR ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS,
MLAT, AND SPECIAL TRIBUNAL
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar informed the
Ambassador on February 3 that he had forwarded a draft
trafficking in persons law to the cabinet for approval, a
step needed before it goes to a parliamentary vote. He did
not expect the draft to face political opposition. His
ministry is interested in signing a Mutual Legal Assistance
Treaty with the U.S., Najjar said, noting the bilateral legal
agreement signed with France during Prime Minister Hariri's
January visit to Paris. On domestic politics, Najjar feared
that Syria and its allies would take advantage of PM Hariri's
desire to "rule by friendship" to strengthen their power.
Najjar also discussed the ongoing visit of Special Tribunal
for Lebanon (STL) Presiding Judge Antonio Cassese, who
predicted to the Ambassador that the STL would issue
indictments by the end of 2010. End summary.
TIP LAW REFERRED TO THE CABINET FOR APPROVAL
--------------
2. (C) Justice Minister Najjar told the Ambassador in a
February 3 meeting that, after studying the draft trafficking
in persons (TIP) law, he had recently approved it for
transmission to the cabinet for a vote. If the law appeared
on the cabinet's February 5 agenda and was approved, he said,
it would then pass to parliament for study by the judiciary
committee headed by MP Robert Ghanem before a vote was
scheduled. The key step in maintaining momentum on the bill,
he outlined, was to ensure that Minister of State for
Parliamentary Affairs Michel Pharaon expedited transfer of
the bill from the cabinet to parliament. Once parliament
voted the TIP bill into law, it would be published in the
official gazette before the Justice Ministry (MOJ) determined
how to implement it. After that, the MOJ would conduct
training to sensitize judges and prosecutors to the new law.
Although one would not expect a TIP law to be controversial,
Najjar clarified, other legislation such as a law protecting
female victims of violence had earlier stalled in the cabinet
due to unforeseen opposition.
MLAT AND ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE WELCOMED
--------------
3. (C) Najjar proposed that the U.S. and the GOL study the
possibility of signing a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty
(MLAT). During Prime Minister Saad Hariri's January visit to
Paris, the two countries had signed a bilateral legal
agreement, he noted. Najjar provided the Ambassador with a
copy of the French agreement. Najjar also welcomed USAID
assistance to the MOJ. The upcoming inauguration of the
USAID-supported model court was important, he underscored,
because it showed the value of the rule of law to citizens.
The MOJ was considering constructing a "judiciary city" to
centralize its activities, and he said that he would approach
the Embassy and other donors for financial support when plans
were finalized.
NEW GOVERNMENT DYNAMICS
--------------
4. (C) Although he called PM Hariri "the man for the
situation" who sought stability and normalized relations with
his opponents, Najjar criticized President Michel Sleiman for
"doing his best to help" Syria's Lebanese allies. His fear,
Najjar said, was that Syria and its allies would take
advantage of Hariri's generosity and Sleiman's weakness to
increase their power during the current political truce.
Hariri's desire to "rule by friendship" is "something new
that we must adapt to," Najjar added.
STL JUDGE PREDICTS INDICTMENTS IN 2010
--------------
5. (C) Regarding the ongoing visit to Beirut of STL Presiding
Judge Antonio Cassese, Najjar indicated that the STL would
need to sign a memorandum of understanding with the GOL to
formalize the procedures for any trials that would be held.
Najjar, who took a wait-and-see approach to the possibility
of indictments, described Cassese as "discovering Lebanon and
the Lebanese" during his visit. He also welcomed the
opportunity to send Lebanese lawyers and judges to visit the
STL's headquarters in the Hague.
6. (C) Cassese met with ambassadors of countries on the STL
managing committee earlier the same day to provide an
overview of STL progress since its inception in March 2009.
The STL's budget is adequate, Cassese said, and he reported
that Russia would join the management committee once it upped
its contribution from $500,000 to $1 million. On prospects
for progress, Cassese revealed his hope that indictments
would be issued by the end of 2010 and reported continued
support from the Lebanese leaders he had briefed, including
President Sleiman and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. While
Cassese said that he would undertake outreach to the Lebanese
public on the role of the STL and the possible timing of its
activities, he has not yet publicly mentioned the 2010
timeline for indictments.
7. (C) COMMENT: Although we are not as optimistic as Najjar
on the timeline for passing the draft TIP law, such a law
would finally provide the GOL the legal framework to
prosecute TIP crimes.
SISON