DEMARCHE DELIVERED: 2006 TIP REPORT

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000761 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN PREL PGOV SMIG AM SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: 2006 TIP REPORT REF: SECSTATE 85525 Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) DCM presented reftel points and the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report summary for Armenia to Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakossian and Valery Mkrtumyan, head of Armenia's interagency Anti-TIP Commission, during a June 5 meeting. Mkrtumyan said the Anti-TIP Commission would take our concerns into consideration as they work on Armenia's new National Action Plan. He said that, given the USG's concern about victim-blaming, the Commission would emphasize victim protection during the formulation of the new plan. Mkrtumyan also agreed with the DCM that the participation of Post's new resident legal advisor in the discussion was a good idea. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) DCM presented reftel points and the TIP Report summary for Armenia to Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakossian and Valery Mkrtumyan, head of Armenia's interagency Anti-TIP Commission, during a June 5 meeting. DCM informed Kirakossian and Mkrtumyan that Armenia had remained on the Tier 2 Watch List because of several issues, including victim-blaming and the fact that Armenians convicted of trafficking-in-persons crimes rarely serve their full sentences. Kirakossian was interested in Azerbaijan's rating, and DCM explained that, because the GOAJ had demonstrated increased efforts to combat trafficking in persons, particularly in assigning strict penalties to those convicted of this crime, it had moved from the Tier 2 Watch List to Tier 2. We also passed a copy of an op-ed piece to be published over the Ambassador's signature on June 6. ¶3. (SBU) Mkrtumyan said the Anti-TIP Commission would take our concerns into consideration as they work on Armenia's new National Action Plan. The current three-year plan expires December 31, 2006. Mkrtumyan said plan stakeholders will meet June 8 under the aegis of OSCE to discuss items that should be included in the next plan. He mused that, given the USG's concern about victim-blaming, the Commission would emphasize victim protection during the formulation of the new plan. DCM encouraged Kirakossian and Mkrtumyan to involve Post's new resident legal advisor in the discussions. Mkrtumyan agreed that her participation was a good idea. EVANS