MFA INITIAL RESPONSE TO 2004 TIP REPORT

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001339 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/ACE, EUR/PGI, G/TIP, DRL DEPT PLEASE PASS USAID SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID AM SUBJECT: MFA INITIAL RESPONSE TO 2004 TIP REPORT REF: STATE 129244 ¶1. (U) Sensitive But Unclassified. Please treat accordingly. ¶2. (SBU) We delivered TIP report language and accompanying fact sheet and press release information to Special Advisor Salpi Ghazarian and Human Rights Desk Officer Karine Soudjian June 14 per reftel instructions. Both reported that the GOAM was pleased to see that Armenia had remained a Tier 2 country but recognized the need for progress -- especially in the area of victim protection -- in order to avoid a Tier 3 classification in the future. Ghazarian passed the report language to FM Oskanian in advance of his meetings scheduled for June 14 and 15 in Washington. In response to the report language, Soudjian reviewed Armenia's National Anti-Trafficking Plan of Action and previewed MFA plans to support legislative measures aimed at combating trafficking during the Fall 2004 legislative session. After reviewing relevant talking points, Soudjian said that problems with inter-agency coordination among GOAM entities as well as with the donor community were the biggest obstacles to GOAM progress on TIP. Post reviewed ongoing USG bilateral and multilateral programs in Armenia to combat TIP and committed to capitalize on the rollout of the report as a way to further educate the public and GOAM on the issue. ¶3. (U) Post is disseminating TIP information among civil society and press contacts and will report on results septel. ORDWAY