OSCE YEREVAN OFFICE SATISFIED WITH RESULTS OF FIRST STAGE OF ACTIVITIES
ENVISAGED BY AGREEMENT SIGNED WITH RA DEFENCE MINISTRY

YEREVAN, December 21 (Noyan Tapan). On December 20, Ambassador Vladimir
Pryakhin, Head of OSCE Yerevan office, met with Serge Sargsian,
Secretary of National Security Council attached to RA President, RA
Defence Minister. During the meeting Vladimir Pryakhin represented
the positive results of first stage of the activities envisaged by the
agreement signed between OSCE Yerevan Office and RA Defence Minsitry
on June 11 (on holding of a monitoring in Armed Forces and effective
cooperation between OSCE and RA Defence Ministry. “We are satisfied
with the results of the first stage and with assistance rendered
by you and the respective structures of the Defence Ministry,”
V.Pryakhin mentioned. The sides also touched upon the adoption of
the law on alternative military service and first group call-up (20
men called up for military service due for alternative labor service
and 1 alternative military service). According to the Spokesman of RA
Defence Ministry, Vladimir Pryakhin also represented the results of
surveys concerning military service held jointly with the “Soldier’s
Mother” NGO in a military detachment. He established that the work
done gave the desirable results, today the organization may freely
communicate with servicemen, reveal their problems and lead them up to
the RA Defence Minister. Serge Sargsian in his turn said that besides
the above-mentioned organization nearly 9 NGOs also cooperate with
the Defence Ministry and it’s possible to solve concrete problems
owing to the active mediation of these organizations. He also added
that not only NGOs but all creative unions acting in the republic
cooperate with the Ministry. The creative unions contribute to
spending of a more interesting leisure in the army owing to numerous
cultural events, visits to military units, concerts, meetings with
servicemen. Touching upon the Karabakh problem Ambassador Pryakhin
established that he isn’t acquainted with any significant textbook
on Nagorno Karabakh history of the latest period yet and displayed
willingness to obtain such literature. The Defence Minister established
that such textbooks are necessary for military-patriotic education of
young generation and added that the Armenian writers have certain
duties in this aspect. V. Pryakhin also represented the recent
program of socio-economic development implemented in Sunik, which
was discussed with the population and administration of the region
and was highly estimated. The Minister added that RA authorities
also worked out a program of Sunik development especially mentioning
road construction, development of tourism and protection of historic
and cultural monuments. The sides expressed hope that the bilateral
cooperation is on a good basis and will go on at the same rates.