Turkey And Armenia

In October 1999, five terrorists opened fire on a session of Parliament with automatic weapons. They killed the Prime Minister, the Speaker of Parliament, the two Deputy Speakers, the Minister for Special Projects, and three deputies, and wounded the Minister of Privatization and four other deputies, some critically. Deputy Procurator General Jhangirian (who is also the Military Prosecutor) was placed in charge of the investigation of the shootings. By the end of 1999, 19 persons, including a National Assembly deputy (who was stripped of his immunity by a vote of that body), the then-presidential chief of staff and advisor, and the deputy chief of state television, had been imprisoned. The investigation was criticized by attorneys for the accused, by the media, and by representatives of human rights organizations for alleged human rights abuses, including physical and mental coercion of the detainees. For example, chief defendant Nairi Hunanian claimed he was threatened and tortured in ... [Read More]

Europe and Eurasia

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Turkey

The Government generally respected its citizens' human rights in a number of areas; however, its record was poor in some areas, and several serious problems remained.  Extrajudicial killings continued, including deaths due to excessive use of force and torture.  There were two disappearances of political activists.  Torture, beatings, and other abuses by security forces remained widespread, although the number of reported cases declined.  There were reports that police and Jandarma often employed torture and abused detainees during incommunicado detention and interrogation.  In the southeast, nation-wide problems such as torture were exacerbated by substantially abridged freedoms of expression and association.  The lack of universal and immediate access to an attorney, long detention periods for those held for political crimes (particularly in the state of emergency region), and a culture of impunity are major factors in the commission of torture by police ... [Read More]

U.S. Department of State Websites of U.S. Embassies and Consulates
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U.S. Opposes Schiff Amendment to FY 05 Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill

The Administration strongly opposes this amendment which seeks to restrict U.S. assistance to Turkey. It should not become law. The amendment is detrimental to the cause we all seek: reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia in pursuit of regional peace and economic cooperation. Turkey and Armenia have been pursuing these goals through direct meetings. Turkey, our key NATO ally, and Armenia, our close friend, are partners in the Global War on Terror and in advancing democracy, prosperity and stability in the Caucasus. Our goal is to bolster cooperation between these two countries rather than to separate them. ... [Read More]

Armenia

SAFETY AND SECURITY: A cease-fire has been in effect since 1994 around the self-proclaimed “Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh”, a breakaway autonomous republic of Azerbaijan. However, reports of intermittent armed clashes along the cease-fire line and along the border with Azerbaijan continue. Because of the existing state of hostilities, consular services are not available to Americans in Nagorno-Karabakh. Travelers should exercise caution near the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and consult the Consular Information Sheet for Azerbaijan if considering travel to Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenian territory. Armenia's land borders with Turkey, Azerbaijan, and the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan remain closed and continue to be patrolled by armed troops who stop all persons attempting to cross. Ther ... [Read More]

V. Country Narratives -- Countries A through G

Cyprus is a destination country for women trafficked from Eastern and Central Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Traffickers who forced women into prostitution continued to fraudulently recruit victims for work as dancers in cabarets and nightclubs on short-term "artiste" visas, for work in pubs and bars on employment visas, or for illegal work on tourist or student visas. There was increasing evidence of Chinese women being trafficked for sexual exploitation in Cyprus. The Government of Cyprus does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. Cyprus made some progress in its anti-trafficking efforts over the past year. The new police anti-trafficking unit produced successful results and showed vigilance in combating the problem. Government recognition of the problem improve ... [Read More]

Interview With Metehan Demir of Turkey’s Kanal-D TV

SECRETARY RICE: Well, unfortunately we are not members of the European Union So we can’t say. We’ve been supporters of Turkey’s accession and of that happening as quickly as possible. Obviously, there are standards that Turkey needs to meet. And the European Union is well within its rights to say that there are certain things that need to be done in order to bring about Turkey’s accession. But I think we’ve been a supportive as anyone for that accession to take place. And given that we are not a member, it really is up to Turkey and the European Union to find a way for it -- with Turkey doing what it needs to do and with Europe being welcoming of a Turkey that really does have a rightful place in the world. ... [Read More]

IV. Country Narratives: Europe and Eurasia

Several government agencies and organizations provide social, psychological, and legal assistance to trafficking victims. In addition to shelters run by NGOs, the city of Vilnius and some other municipalities operated hostels to provide shelter and social support to victims of domestic violence and trafficking victims. No formal screening and referral procedures are used, but police cooperate with assistance providers as appropriate. Over 200 trafficking victims are estimated to have received assistance at shelters in Lithuania during the reporting period. In July 2003, the government established and provided funds for a pilot program, called “Psychological Rehabilitation, Professional Orientation, and Employment of Victims of Trafficking and Prostitution,” to work with individual victims. Police did not charge trafficking victims with prostitution and immigration violations during the reporting period. The Police Department’s “Witness and Victims Protection Service” provides p ... [Read More]

Armenia (04/05)

Armenia is the second most densely populated of the former Soviet republics. It is a landlocked country between the Black and the Caspian Seas, bordered on the north and east by Georgia and Azerbaijan and on the south and west by Iran and Turkey. Up until independence, Armenia's economy was based largely on industry--chemicals, electronic products, machinery, processed food, synthetic rubber, and textiles--and highly dependent on outside resources. Agriculture accounted for only 20% of net material product and 10% of employment before the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. Armenian mines produce copper, zinc, gold, and lead. The vast majority of energy is produced with imported fuel, including gas and nuclear fuel (for its one nuclear power plant) from Russia; the main domestic energy source is hydroelectric. Small amounts of coal, gas, and petroleum have not yet been developed. ... [Read More]