US embassy cable - 05YEREVAN420

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000420 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR INR/R/MR-STHIBEAULT, EUR/PPD-JQUINTUS AND 
JBASEDOW, EUR/CACEN-ESIDEREAS, EUR, EUR/ACE, EUR/SNEC, 
EUR/SE 
 
E.O. 12958; N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, AM, KMDR, OPRC, PREL 
SUBJECT: ARMENIA PRESS REACTION: RELEASE OF HUMAN 
RIGHTS REPORT 2004 
 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. Public reaction to the release of the 2004 Human 
Rights Report was muted.  According to most Armenian 
press, the report was "as expected," which explains the 
limited editorial response.  Oppositionist press 
anticipated a Human Rights Report that would let the 
GOAM off easy, and characterized the 2004 version as 
doing just that.  The pro-government media expected 
criticism, found it, complained, and then tried to 
downplay the report's findings.  The following is a 
summary of press commentary.    End Summary. 
 
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"UNCLE SAM HOLDS THE LEASH" 
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2. HAYOTS ASHKAR, a pro-government daily newspaper 
often critical of the U.S., remarked March 2, "Uncle 
Sam holds the leash of the whole world.and has 
political and vital interests across the universe. 
(This report) is in fact a means to pressure those 
countries where the U.S. has vital interests."  The 
article goes on to say, "as expected, the 2004 report 
is very critical of Armenia." 
 
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OPPOSITIONIST PRESS - U.S. EXPECTATIONS TOO LOW 
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3.  ARAVOT, an oppositionist daily, on March 2, took 
the opposite tact, saying that the Human Rights Report 
failed to cover the true scope of human rights 
violations in Armenia.  "Of course the report is not 
the high truth.  It is more a policy.  But, when one is 
being criticized for minor things it means there are no 
high expectations.  In fact we have more 
dissatisfaction regarding human rights in Armenia (than 
is in this report), but the Americans just keep silent 
about it." 
 
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PRO-GOVT PRESS - "STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS SUFFICIENT" 
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4. On March 3, in a full-page feature article, HAYOTS 
ASHKAR dismissed criticism in the Human Rights Report, 
characterizing the incidents of human rights abuse 
mentioned as, "carelessness" and due to "a lack of 
seriousness typical of Armenians."  The article went on 
to warn, "the authorities must be more reserved.because 
even minor incidents of political and civil rights 
abuse can be used to put pressure on Armenia." 
 
5.  In the same article, HAYOTS ASHKAR went on to say, 
"Based on a study of the Human Rights report, it can be 
stated that no serious political and civil violations 
were noticed.In general the state of human rights in 
our country in 2004 can be considered as sufficient." 
 
 
EVANS