Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

US STATE DEPARTMENT PUBLISHED ANNUAL REPORT ON TRAFFICKING: ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATED PROGRESS IN ITS LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS

US State Department has published the annual report on trafficking
in world. Report presents human slavery index in the world.

“Over the coming months we will celebrate the 150th anniversary of
the Emancipation Proclamation, which Abraham Lincoln announced on
September 22, 1862 and issued by Executive Order on January 1, 1863.

In 1865, as the guns of the Civil War fell silent, the Congress passed
and the states ratified as the 13th Amendment to the Constitution
President Lincoln’s commitment that “neither slavery nor involuntary
servitude shall exist in the United States.”

Like the United States, countries around the world have enacted
laws and adopted international instruments to end slavery as a legal
institution and to eliminate it as a criminal practice. The Universal
Declaration of Human Rights prohibits slavery and involuntary
servitude. More recently, the UN Palermo Protocol has made the
abolition of modern-day slavery a part of international law and a
policy-making priority. Governments across the globe are united in
this struggle.

Yet, despite the adoption of treaties and laws prohibiting slavery,
the evidence nevertheless shows that many men, women, and children
continue to live in modern-day slavery through the scourge of
trafficking in persons.

Trafficking in persons deprives victims of their most basic freedom:
to determine their own future. Our work in fulfilling the promise
of freedom should be not only the pursuit of justice, but also a
restoring of what was taken away. We should aim not only to put an
end to this crime, but also to ensure that survivors can move beyond
their exploitation and live the lives they choose for themselves.

This Report is a guide for our work. In the past decade, a global
community of governments, non-governmental organizations, and countless
other institutions and individuals have brought attention to this
often-hidden crime. Through the work of many, this Report provides
a clear and sobering analysis of the state of modern slavery.

It tells us which governments are making progress, which innovations
are working best, and how we can strengthen our efforts to bring
an end to this crime” US State Secretary Hilary Clinton writes as a
welcoming speech of the .

Referring to the situation in Armenia, the report especially says:

“Armenia is a source country for women and girls subjected to sex
trafficking, as well as a source country for women and men subjected
to forced labor. To a lesser extent it has been a destination country
for women subjected to forced labor. Women and girls from Armenia are
subjected to sex trafficking in the United Arab Emirates and Turkey,
and within the country. Armenian men and women are subjected to forced
labor in Russia. Armenian boys have been subjected to forced labor
within the country. An NGO reported a new trend of labor migrants
withdrawing their children from school and taking them abroad as
helpers; these children are vulnerable to conditions of forced labor.

The Government of Armenia does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making
significant efforts to do so. In 2011, the government convicted more
trafficking offenders than during the previous year, continued to
train hundreds of officials in partnership with NGOs and international
organizations, and strengthened anti-trafficking public awareness
campaigns. The number of victims identified by the government during
the year continued to drop”.

“The Armenian government demonstrated progress in its law enforcement
efforts against human trafficking during the reporting period. Armenia
prohibits both sex trafficking and labor trafficking through articles
132 and 132-2 of its criminal code, which prescribe penalties of five
to 15 years’ imprisonment – penalties that are sufficiently stringent
and commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes such
as rape. The government investigated 16 sex trafficking cases and one
labor trafficking case in 2011, compared with 15 sex trafficking and no
labor trafficking cases in 2010. During 2011, the Armenian government
prosecuted eight new cases against 15 individuals for sex trafficking
offenses and no individuals for labor trafficking offenses, compared
with prosecutions against six alleged sex traffickers and no alleged
labor traffickers newly prosecuted in 2010.

During the year, the government continued to prosecute an additional
11 defendants whose cases had begun in previous years; nine were
charged with sex trafficking and two with labor trafficking. The
government convicted 13 trafficking offenders in 2011 – including 11
individuals for sex trafficking and two for labor trafficking – up
from a total of five convictions in 2010. All 13 convicted offenders
in 2011 were given sentences ranging from four to nine years’
imprisonment. Based on a request made by Armenian law enforcement
agencies in 2010, in September 2011 Turkey extradited an alleged
Armenian trafficker to Armenia; the alleged trafficker was escorted
by Armenian law enforcement officers from Istanbul to Yerevan. The
Armenian government sustained partnerships with anti-trafficking
NGOs, international organizations, and foreign governments to provide
anti-trafficking training to hundreds of government officials including
prosecutors, police, border guards, members of the judicial system,
and labor inspectors. Human trafficking continued to be included
in the curriculum of all education facilities of law enforcement
bodies. There were no reports of government officials’ complicity in
trafficking during 2011”.

“The Armenian government undertook strong trafficking prevention
efforts during the reporting period. The government spent the
equivalent of almost all of the $23,000 devoted in the budgets of the
Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and Ministry of Youth and Sport
Affairs to further increase public awareness of human trafficking.

Many of these public awareness activities involved broadcasting
anti-trafficking public service announcements and other programs on
national and regional stations during peak viewing periods. Various
government agencies undertook prevention activities. The Ministerial
Council to Combat Trafficking in Persons and the Inter-Agency Working
Group against Trafficking in Persons continued to meet regularly
and coordinate the implementation of the 2010-2012 National Plan
of Action addressing human trafficking, in collaboration with NGOs
and international organizations, and began to work on the 2013-2015
National Plan of Action. The government regularly published reports on
its anti-trafficking activities during the reporting period. During
the year, the government took measures to identify and record the
unregistered births of children. In an effort to reduce the demand
for commercial sex, the government publicized its efforts to combat
prostitution. The government provided anti-trafficking training to
Armenian troops before their deployment overseas on international
peacekeeping missions”, the report concludes.

From: Baghdasarian

REFUGEES LEAVING ARMENIA

05:42 pm | Today | Social

The Democratic Party of Armenia (HDK) is going to submit to the
Armenian government a package of proposals for resolving refugee
problems.

“Refugees today face a major problem connected with lodging. They
have so many problems that the best solution is to develop a special
state program o address their problems,” HDK Leader Aram Sargsyan
told a press conference on June 20.

HDK representatives visited refugees during the election campaign to
get acquainted with their living conditions.

“If you visit the hostels they live in, you will be surprised to see
their miserable conditions that resemble an earthquake-stricken zone.

Yes, it is a real zone of disaster. For 23 years people have been
living there in abject conditions,” he said.

Aram Sargsyan says while neglecting refugees the state contributes
to migration, at the same time serving the interests of Azerbaijan.

According to the State Migration Service, more than 361.000 Armenians
of Azerbaijan settled in Armenia from 1988 to1992. However, no
information is available about these people today as many of them
have either left Armenia or changed their place of abode.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA WILL KEEP COMPLEMENTARITY BETWEEN EUROPEAN AND EURASIAN INTEGRATION PROCESSES: ARMENIAN PM

ARMENPRESS
20 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS: European and Eurasian integration
processes do not contradict each other and it is wrong to oppose them.

Armenpress reports that about this declared Prime Minister of Armenia
Tigran Sargsyan in the National Assembly answering to the question of
Deputy Vahan Hovhannisyan. “In our program this approach is reflected.

We will continue the negotiations with European Union on Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement which includes six stages and three
of them we will implement this year” mentioned Tigran Sargsyan hoping
that Armenia in near future will be able to reach the signing of that
agreement. “It comes from the interests of our state as new markets
are opened for us” stressed the leader of the Government. Prime
Minister also reminded that last year in Saint-Petersburg Armenia
had signed the treaty about free trade of CIS member states. “We are
interested that such integration process take place in the framework
of Eurasian Economic Community and try to keep the complementarity in
this context. We consider these processes not as mutually exclusive
but complementary to each other” summarized Tigran Sargsyan.

From: Baghdasarian

IT IS NOT ON EU’S AGENDA TO REPLACE FRANCE IN OSCE MINSKH GROUP: TEFAN FULE

ARMENPRESS
20 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 19, ARMENPRESS: Armenia has announced development
of relations with the European Union one of its priorities. About
Armenia- European Union relations, influence of the Armenian elections
on these relations and Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement Armenpress
interviewed EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood
Policy, Mr tefan Fule.

– Mr. Commissioner, in these latest months it was affirmed by Armenian
authorities and the European partners that Parliamentary elections are
of a paramount importance for the future of Armenia-EU relations. Now
after the elections, what is your assessment of these elections?

-High Representative Ashton and myself issued a statement on 8 May,
where we welcome, based on the preliminary findings by OSCE/ODIHR,
the efforts by the Armenian authorities to hold the parliamentary
elections in a way which shows progress towards more transparent and
competitive elections. However, we still believe that those elections
also demonstrated the need to address a number of issues in order
to fully meet internationally recognized democratic standards. The
issues I refer to are for example the inaccuracies in the voters lists,
violation of campaign-related provisions of the Electoral Code, the
need to reinforce campaign financing rules and the need to review the
legal framework for complaints and appeals. It will be very important
to address the shortcomings identified thoroughly in the run up to
the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for the beginning of
next year.

– What is your perspective on Armenia-EU relations after the
Parliamentary elections and what are the expectations of European
partners from Armenia’s presidential elections?

-Armenia-EU relations are dynamically developing, especially with
Armenia actively engaged in all aspects of the Eastern Partnership,
making very good progress in all areas of the Association Agreement
negotiated since July 2010. The EU in turn is continuously willing
to support all ambitious reform efforts undertaken in Armenia. In the
logic of the “more for more” approach, when one of the key benchmarks
is holding of democratic and credible elections, we are ready to step
up our assistance even further once the shortcoming mentioned earlier
are properly addressed.

– Still the promotion of democracy is an important sticking point for
deepening relations in the Eastern Partnership framework. How do you
assess the progress of Armenia in this regard and what can we expect
in near future?

-High Representative Ashton and myself have stated in the European
Neighbourhood Policy Progress report on Armenia last month that while
there is a serious effort to address issues related to human rights
and fundamental freedoms, further work needs to be done especially
in the implementation of legislation. Positive steps were taken to
prepare the country for the upcoming elections, with changes in the
electoral code and a presidential amnesty for the remaining persons
detained for charges related to the March 2008 events. However, we
still have concerns about media freedom relating to the limitations
on TV broadcasting and to civil law suits for insult and defamation.

Despite the reform effort, public trust in the judiciary continues
to be low, and the perception of corruption is still high.

Nevertheless, let me assure you that the EU will continue to support
Armenia’s efforts in these domains, through dialogue and different
cooperation instruments.

– In any case regional conflicts remain the main issues for the South
Caucasus. Recently it is much declared that the EU wants to have larger
engagement in the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. What is
the main framework that the EU wishes to engage with?

-We have outlined this framework several times, most recently in
February when the Council of the European Union in its Conclusions
on the South Caucasus expressed its concern over the slow progress
in the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It confirmed the EU’s continuing support to
the OSCE Minsk Group, reiterated its support for the Madrid principles
and called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to step up their efforts to
reach agreement on those principles as a basis for peace. The EU also
expressed its readiness to provide enhanced support for confidence
building measures, in support of and in full complementarity with
the Minsk Group, with a view to facilitating further steps towards
the implementation of peace. In this regard, I myself also discussed
with the President of Armenia the need for unconditional access for
representatives of the EU to Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions.

I should also mention that the Council invited the High Representative
and the Commission to develop, in close consultation with the OSCE,
post conflict scenarios for Nagorno-Karabakh as a basis for future
EU engagement.

-There were also many speculations that the EU was going to replace
France in the OSCE Minsk Group. Do you consider this probable and, if
realized, how can that step have a positive impact on the negotiations
process?

-It is not on EU’s agenda to change this format of undertaking
efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in and around
Nagorno-Karabakh. As I said, the Council has confirmed the EU’s
continuing support to the OSCE Minsk Group. And the EU can still,
however, provide enhanced support for confidence building measures.

tefan Fule was interviewed by Armen Ghazaryan.

From: Baghdasarian

IRRIGATION WATER IS SCARCE IN ARMENIA

news.am
June 19, 2012 | 13:47

YEREVAN. – Irrigation water is scarce in Armenia this year, State
Water Management Committee official Adibek Ghazaryan said during a
press conference on Tuesday.

In his words, there are 155,000-hectare irrigation lands in Armenia
and 1 billion 130 million cubic meters of water is needed to irrigate
them. But not enough water is collected in the reservoirs and, as a
result, there is a shortage of close to 150 million cubic meters of
irrigation water. And this deficit will be complemented solely by way
of additional water release-totaling 320 million cubic meters-from
Lake Sevan, whereas the Sevan Commission had proposed to complement
some portion of the water shortage from the underground waters.

But as per Ghazaryan, the underground waters in the Ararat Valley
likewise have reduced over the years.

Adibek Ghazaryan also confessed that 60-70 percent of the water
released from Lake Sevan is lost in the hydro energy system and in
the water channels even before reaching the farmers.

From: Baghdasarian

US, FRENCH, RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS ISSUE A STATEMENT ON NAGORNO KARABAKH

armradio.am
19.06.2012 12:32

Presidents of the OSCE Minks Group Co-Chair countries, Barack Obama
(US), Francois Hollande( France) and Vladimir Putin (Russia), issued
a joint statement Monday during the G-20 Summit currently under way in
the Mexican city. The three presidents urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to
fulfill their promise and work toward progress on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict resolution process, Asbarez reports.

Below is the text of the statement:

“We, the Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries –
France, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America –
are united in our resolute commitment to a peaceful settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The parties to the conflict should
not further delay making the important decisions necessary to reach
a lasting and peaceful settlement. We regret that the Presidents
of Azerbaijan and Armenia did not take the decisive steps that our
countries called for in the joint statement at Deauville on May 26,
2011. Nevertheless, the progress that has been achieved should provide
the momentum to complete work on the framework for a comprehensive
peace.

We call upon the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to fulfill the
commitment in their January 23, 2012 joint statement at Sochi to
“accelerate” reaching agreement on the Basic Principles for a
Settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict. As evidence of their
political will, they should refrain from maximalist positions in the
negotiations, respect the 1994 ceasefire agreement, and abstain from
hostile rhetoric that increases tension. We urge the leaders to be
guided by the principles of the Helsinki Final Act – particularly
those relating to the non-use of force or the threat of force,
territorial integrity, and equal rights and self-determination of
peoples – and the elements of a settlement outlined in our countries’
statements at L’Aquila in 2009 and Muskoka in 2010.

Military force will not resolve the conflict and would only prolong
the suffering and hardships endured by the peoples of the region
for too long. Only a peaceful, negotiated settlement can allow the
entire region to move beyond the status quo toward a secure and
prosperous future.

Our countries will continue to work closely with the sides, and
we call upon them to make full use of the assistance of the Minsk
Group Co-Chairs as mediators. However, peace will depend ultimately
upon the parties’ willingness to seek an agreement based on mutual
understanding, rather than one-sided advantage, and a shared vision
of the benefits that peace will bring to all their peoples and to
future generations.”

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA, ARTSAKH DISCUSS CIVIL AVIATION DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 19, 2012 – 12:43 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On June 18, President of the Artsakh Republic Bako
Sahakyan met with the delegation of Armenia’s Civil Aviation General
Department led by head of the government agency Artyom Movsesyan.

Reopening of Stepanakert airport and development of civil aviation
in the republic as well as cooperation prospects between the relevant
structures of the two Armenian states were in the focus of the meeting.

NKR Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan and other officials attended
the meeting, Central Information Department at Artsakh President’s
Office reported.

From: Baghdasarian

INTELLECTUALS PROPOSE COORDINATION OF ASSISTANCE TO SYRIAN ARMENIANS

news.am
June 19, 2012 | 12:30

YEREVAN. – A group of Armenia’s thinkers have called on for the
establishment of a Council of Coordination of Assistance to Syrian
Armenians.

As per the intellectuals, it is necessary to form a rapid reaction
council comprising representatives from Armenia’s state agencies,
the Armenian Apostolic Church, “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund, and
political parties functioning in the Armenian diaspora.

“Armenia must become the home of those compatriots who are born or
raised in Syria. It is our duty to direct to Armenia those who have
not yet made a decision,” the thinkers’ statement reads in particular.

And in their view, one of the tasks at hand is the resumption of
Armenia’s Armavia Airline Company’s flights to and from Syria, so
that Syrian Armenians will be able to return home.

From: Baghdasarian

100 DESCENDANTS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS TO RECEIVE COMPENSATION FROM AXA

ARMENPRESS
19 June, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 19, ARMENPRESS: Lately American “Glendale News” newspaper
has spread information that descendants of Armenian Genocide victims
will receive insurance compensations. The ministry of Justice of
the Republic of Armenia received the clarification of lawyer Vardges
Eghiayan who had presented the case in the court of United States of
America. In the clarification is said that the corresponding committee
during the examination of presented documents and applies for receiving
compensations for the descendants of Armenian Genocide victims had made
some discrepancies, therefore Armenian lawyer involved in the case had
applied to USA court. The court after examining the case instructed
to recalculate the payments. It relates only to those applies which
had already been satisfied by the committee. Armenpress was informed
from Ministry of Justice of Armenian that in result around 2 176 587
US dollars will be distributed between almost 100 applicants.

From: Baghdasarian

RENCONTRE DES MINISTRES DES AFFAIRES ETRANGÈRES ARMENIEN ET AZERI
Ara

armenews.com
mardi 19 juin 2012

Les ministres armenien ( Edward Nalbandian) et azerbaïdjanais (Elmar
Mammadyarov) des Affaires etrangères se sont rencontres le 18 juin
a Paris avec les copresidents du groupe de Minsk et un representant
de l’OSCE.

Selon un communique officiel, les ministres ont discute de la situation
au Haut Karabagh, des progrès dans le règlement du conflit et des
mesures a prendre pour creer un mecanisme permettant d’enqueter sur
les violations du cessez-le-feu.

Les copresidents se sont declares profondement preoccupes par les
incidents repetes sur la ligne de contact tandis que les ministres
des Affaires etrangères exprimaient leur volonte de poursuivre leur
negociation dans le cadre du groupe de Minsk. Ils ont exprime leur
volonte d’aboutir a un règlement pacifique et de prendre des mesures
de confiance pour ameliorer le climat des negociations.

La reunion a ete juge positive et son atmosphère constructive.

Les copresidents se rendront dans la region la semaine prochaine.

From: Baghdasarian