Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05YEREVAN1091
2005-06-23 02:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:  

ARMENIA: MEDIA REACTION TO DVC WITH AMBASSADOR

Tags:  KMDR OPRC KPAO AM KTIP 
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UNCLAS YEREVAN 001091 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR INR/R/MR-STHIBEAULT, EUR/PPD-JQUINTUS AND JBASEDOW,
EUR/CACEN-SBANKS AND DSTAVROPOLOUS, EUR, EUR/SNEC, G/TIP

E.O. 12958; N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC KPAO AM KTIP
SUBJECT: ARMENIA: MEDIA REACTION TO DVC WITH AMBASSADOR
MILLER ON THE TIP REPORT


UNCLAS YEREVAN 001091

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR INR/R/MR-STHIBEAULT, EUR/PPD-JQUINTUS AND JBASEDOW,
EUR/CACEN-SBANKS AND DSTAVROPOLOUS, EUR, EUR/SNEC, G/TIP

E.O. 12958; N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC KPAO AM KTIP
SUBJECT: ARMENIA: MEDIA REACTION TO DVC WITH AMBASSADOR
MILLER ON THE TIP REPORT



1. SUMMARY: On June 17, 2005 U.S. Embassy Yerevan held a
digital video conference (DVC) on the 2005 Trafficking in
Persons (TIP) Report with Ambassador John Miller, director
of the State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat
Trafficking in Persons. Media coverage of the conference was
widespread, with approximately six television stations, one
radio station, and six print sources covering the event.
Coverage focused on the TIP Report statement that
"indications of official collusion and complicity among
government officials hampered the government's efforts to
adequately tackle Armenia's trafficking problem" and
complained that the USG did not provide more concrete
evidence to support assertions of official collusion. END
SUMMARY.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SUPPORT TRAFFICKING


2. A1+ NEWS AGENCY published an article on 6/17/2005
entitled "RA Government Supports Trafficking." The article
extensively quotes the TIP Report's claim that Armenian
government officials have supported trafficking. It also
states, "Mr. Miller mentioned that in our country the
punishment for this kind of deed is too mild."

THE UNITED STATES CANNOT PRESENT CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF
ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS' INVOLVEMENT IN TRAFFICKING


3. HAYOTS ASKHAR, a pro-government daily with a circulation
of approximately 3,500, published an article on 6/18/05
focusing on the fact that Ambassador Miller did not provide
concrete evidence of the complicity of Armenian government
officials in trafficking. According to the article, "When
asked who the authorities [who support trafficking] are,
whether they are known to the authors of the report, and
whether their names have been published anywhere, Ambassador
John Miller...did not actually provide an answer." The
article continues to state that, "while law enforcement
agencies in Armenian might be corrupt and might have taken
part in trafficking of persons, it is still necessary to
provide hard evidence of this."

THE UNITED STATES AND ARMENIA ARE BOTH RESPONSIBLE FOR
TRAFFICKING...BUT THE UNITED STATES IS NOT AS RESPONSIBLE


4. REGNUM, a Russian-language news agency, published an
article on 6-17-2005 entitled "Trafficking: the United
States and Armenia Bear Equal Responsibility But Occupy
Different Positions." The article states, "It is noteworthy
that...the United States occupies a better position than
does Armenia [with regard to trafficking]..." The article
also focuses on Ambassador Miller's statement that source
and destination countries are equally responsible for the
problem of trafficking in persons.

THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT FOCUSED ON THE SOCIAL ISSUES
ASSOCIATED WITH TRAFFICKING


5. GOLOS ARMENII, a pro-government daily with a circulation
of approximately 3,500, printed an article on 6/21/05 which
states that the United States has not focused enough on the
social issues associated with trafficking in persons.
According to the article, "With the obvious goal of imposing
a universal model for the fight against trafficking, the
United States is unwilling to go into the real, social
reasons for this phenomenon. Instead, they recommend
imposing stricter punishments (undoubtedly necessary) and
implementing different programs."

EVANS