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