GOAM WELCOMES MOVE TO TIER II ON TIP REPORT

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001214 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/ACE, G/TIP, DRL, INR, INL/AAE EUR/CACEN FOR MARGARET PAWLICK INL/AAE FOR ED SCHACK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV AM KTIP SUBJECT: GOAM WELCOMES MOVE TO TIER II ON TIP REPORT REF: STATE 156656 ¶1. (U) SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE TREAT ACCORDINGLY. ¶2. (U) POLOFFS DELIVERED COPIES OF THE 2003 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT TO MFA HUMAN RIGHTS DESK OFFICER AND ACTING INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS HEAD (MULTILATERAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR),KARINE SOUDJIAN, JUNE 12 PER INSTRUCTIONS IN REFTEL. SOUDJIAN EXPRESSED THE GOAM'S SATISFACTION THAT ARMENIA HAD BEEN CLASSIFIED IN THIS YEAR'S REPORT AS A TIER II COUNTRY. ¶3. (U) SOUDJIAN ALSO OUTLINED FUTURE STEPS THE GOAM WILL TAKE TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING THROUGH ITS DRAFT NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION (NPA). THE DRAFT NPA IS UNDER REGULAR REVIEW BY THE GOAM'S "INTER-AGENCY COMMISSION TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING." SOUDJIAN SAID THAT THE MFA HOPES THE DRAFT WILL BE FORMALLY ADOPTED BY THE GOAM LATER THIS MONTH. (NOTE: POST HAS FORWARDED AN ENGLISH VERSION OF THE NPA TO G/TIP FOR COMMENT. END NOTE.) SHE HIGHLIGHTED VARIOUS INITIATIVES UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE COMMISSION THAT INVOLVE MICRO ENTERPRISE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DESIGNED TO ASSIST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. SOUDJIAN SAID THAT THE GOAM HOPES THESE PROGRAMS WILL HELP ENHANCE THE PROTECTION SERVICES AVAILABLE TO VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING. ¶4. (SBU) SOUDJIAN ADDED HER SURPRISE THAT, GIVEN THE POSITIVE MOVE TO TIER II, THE NARRATIVE SECTION ON ARMENIA APPEARED TO CONTAIN MORE NEGATIVE THAN POSITIVE COMMENTARY. SHE ALSO INQUIRED WHY DISCUSSION OF AZERBAIJAN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE REPORT. SHE EMPHASIZED THAT HER OFFICE CONSIDERS THE TRANSNATIONAL NATURE OF THE TRAFFICKING ISSUE AND SAID THE GOAM VIEWED THE PROBLEM AS A "REGIONAL ONE, NOT LIMITED TO OUR NATIONAL TERRITORY." WALKER NNNN