ARKA News Agency – 01/17/2005

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Jan 17 2005

Both criminals escaped from Goris prison captured

Russia registers some progress in rapprochement of views of Yerevan
and Baku on Karabakh settlement

Forum in the framework of Zang legal socialization program to be held
in Armenia on January 24

Fight for power to continue in Armenia in 2005, believes the leader
of the Republican fraction

Armenian peacemakers to leave for Iraq tomorrow

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BOTH CRIMINALS ESCAPED FROM GORIS PRISON CAPTURED

YEREVAN, January 17. /ARKA/. Both criminals escaped from Goris prison
– Mher Yenokian (1975) and Sohomon Kocharian (1966) have been
captured, RA Police press service told ARKA. Both prisoners are kept
in Nubarashen prison. L.D. –0–

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RUSSIA REGISTERS SOME PROGRESS IN RAPPROCHEMENT OF VIEWS OF YEREVAN
AND BAKU ON KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

YEREVAN, January 17. /ARKA/. Russia registers some progress in
rapprochement of views of Yerevan and Baku on Karabakh settlement.
According to RF MFA, after regular round of Prague consultations on
Karabakh settlement, Moscow notes with satisfaction that meetings of
Armenian and Azeri parties at different levels including at the level
of presidents and in the frames of `Prague process’ received regular
character. `Armenian and Azeri representatives consider almost all
aspects of the situation related to the conflict. Among them are
withdrawal of forces, demilitarization of territories, international
guarantees, Nagorno Karabakh status and others’, press release notes.
It also notes that both parties confirm readiness to continue joint
work.
`The agreements of parties to continue realization of earlier passed
decision on direction of OSCE MG mission to occupied territories
around Karabakh and to conduct works on organization of new meeting
of RA and AR president in Warsaw in summer 2005 also included to this
context’, RA MFA notes.
At this press release stresses that Moscow as earlier express
readiness to assist in deepening of mutual understanding between
Armenia and Azerbaijan together with other OSCE MG participants.
Note on Jan 11, 2005 in Prague RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian
met with Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mamediarov with participation
of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen (Russia, USA, France). L.D. –0–

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FORUM IN THE FRAMEWORK OF ZANG LEGAL SOCIALIZATION PROGRAM TO BE HELD
IN ARMENIA ON JANUARY 24

YEREVAN, January 17. /ARKA/. The forum in the framework of Zang legal
socialization program will be held in Armenia on January 24.
According to the Press Service of Project Harmony, the forum will
summarize the results of the pilot stage of project implementation
and will discuss the further perspectives of its development in
Armenia. In the framework of the forum, the presentation of a
training manual and Zang community reference-book will take place.
Representatives of the US Embassy in Armenia, RA Police, RA Ministry
of Science and Education and representatives of local and
international organizations will participate in the forum..
Zang legal socialization program has been implemented in Armenia by
Project Harmony since September, 2003 and is financed by the
International Bureau for Legal Assistance and Fighting Drugs of the
US Department of State. Program objective is the training of
representatives of law enforcement structures and legal education
tutors of Armenia in legal socialization.
Zang legal socialization program is the second program of Project
Harmony implemented in Armenia. The first Armenia Connectivity
project is implemented by the Bureau of Cultural and Social Contacts
of US Department of State.
Project Harmony was established in March of 1985. It has 17
representations in teh USA, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and
in the Ukraine. L.V.–0 –

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FIGHT FOR POWER TO CONTINUE IN ARMENIA IN 2005, BELIEVES THE LEADER
OF THE REPUBLICAN FRACTION

YEREVAN, January 17. /ARKA/. Fight for power will continue in Armenia
in 2005, as stated Galust Sahakyan, the leader of the Republican
fraction of RA Parliament in Azdak discussion club. He noted that
calls for revolution, which had many times been stated by the
oppositional leaders- `are nothing else, but dreams of power
seizure’. `Unfortunately, there is fight for power, and not fight of
ideas in Armenia’, noted Sahakyan. Commenting on the events in the
Ukraine and Georgia in 2004, he said `If a tense situation occurs
somewhere, the opposition tries to repeat it in Armenia. However,
Georgian or Ukrainian events cannot be repeated in Armenia, as we are
not similar to any other country, we do not have premises for such
coups, as Armenia sets completely different public and national
tasks’. L.V. -0–

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ARMENIAN PEACEMAKERS TO LEAVE FOR IRAQ TOMORROW

YEREVAN, January 17. /ARKA/. Armenian peacemakers will leave for Iraq
on January 18, according to the Information and Propaganda Department
of the RA Ministry of Defense.
Note, on September 6, 2004, Armenian and Polish Presidents signed a
security cooperation agreement, in the framework of which 46 Armenian
servicemen are to be sent to Iraq as a part of Polish battalion.
Earlier, RA Government approved the suggestion to join Memorandum of
Understanding `Command Arrangements and Related Matters for the
Multinational Division (Central South) (MND C-S) within the
Stabilization Force in Iraq, which was ratified by the RA President
on August 9, 2004.
On December 8, 2004, the RA Constitutional Court declared the
memorandum corresponding to the Constitution of RA. On December 24,
2004 the RA Parliament ratified the Memorandum which provided for the
dispatch of Armenian peacemakers to Iraq. The decision was made after
seven-hour closed discussions, which were attended by two
oppositional fractions boycotting the Parliament – Justice Bloc and
National Unity. Dashnaktsutyn Party of the ruling coalition and
Justice Opposition bloc opposed the decision to send Armenian
peacemakers to Iraq.
As Serge Sargsian, the RA Defence Minister told the reporters after
the ratification of the memorandum, Armenia will send a contingent of
46 peacemakers, including a General Commander, Signal Officer at the
staff of Polish division, Platoon Commander, 3 doctors (a
cardiologist, a therapist and a psychiatrist), 10 field engineers and
30 drivers. According to him, the RA Parliament gave consent to
twelve month’s stay of Armenian contingent in Iraq. The Minister
added that rotation of the main staff will take place in 6 months.
According to Sargsyan, the expenses of Armenia will not exceed $600
thou to be paid as salaries. L.V.–0–