US embassy cable - 05YEREVAN1091

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