Armenia, USA to fight human trafficking, expand cooperation

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
20 Jun 07

[Presenter] The US government will provide our country with 1.6m
dollars within the framework of an agreement signed between the US and
Armenian governments on drugs control and cooperation in
law-enforcement. The aid from the USA will reach 2.6m in 2007 in the
spheres of constant law counselling, the fight against human
trafficking, development of investigative and financial research
institutions and others, US charge d’affaires Anthony Godfrey has said.

[Armenian Prosecutor-General] Aghvan Hovsepyan and Anthony Godfrey have
detailed the evaluations in the US Department of State report
concerning the fight against human trafficking in Armenia.

[Hovsepyan] I should say that in the last few years the work of the
Prosecutor’s Office in this direction has been more active. The
Prosecutor’s Office has ensured the publicity and transparency of its
work in this field. I have examined carefully the evaluation in the [US
Department of State] report, and I would not say that it contains a
negative assessment. On the contrary, positive aspects are noted. I
have discussed the issue with my colleagues as well, and as
prosecutor-general, I think that a necessary and comprehensive
assessment of the law enforcement bodies has not been given.

[Godfrey] I agree with the prosecutor-general, but more can be done.
According to the document signed today, 200,000 [dollars] will be
allocated to strengthen the fight against human trafficking.