ARKA News Agency
March 18 2005
The conception and program of activity for joint combating terrorism
is approved at today’s session of the Council of Ministries of
Foreign Affairs of states-members of the CIS
Round-table on race discrimination situation in Armenia to be held on
March 22
RA President meets with speaker of Byelorussian chamber of reps
Staff of Armenian Ombudsman Office to receive training in Poland and
Lithuania
Organizing committee `In defense of NKR’ urged RA NA to recognize
NKR’S independence
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NAGORNO-KARABAKH CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION APPROVES PLAN OF
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
STEPANAKERT, March 17. /ARKA/. Nagorno-Karabakh central Election
Commission convened a session Wednesday to set a plan and list of
expenditures related to the parliamentary elections scheduled for
June 15 2005. The commission has also made 29 decisions related to
procedural matters, as our correspondent reports. According to
Central Election Commission, candidates can be nominated from Apr 5
to 10. Registration of the parties participating in elections and
candidates running for parliament seats in individual races will be
made from May 10 to 15. Election campaigns will be run from May 16 to
June 17. M.V. -0–
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UN WORLD FOOD PROGRAM PROVIDES $75MLN TO ARMENIA FOR A DECADE OF ITS
ACTIVITY IN THE REPUBLIC
YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. The UN World Food Program has provided
$75mln to Armenia for a decade of its activity in the republic.
Armenian Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan and Regional Director
of the Program Emir Abdullah discussed Thursday the issues related to
the program, as Armenian National Assembly’s Public Relations
Department told ARKA. The ten-year program is to be completed in
2006. In his opinion, after his visit to Gegharkunik and Tavush
Armenian regions the WFP should be continued in Armenia, he said.
Armenian Speaker, in turn, noted that especially mountainous and
remote regions are badly in need of support.
The sides arranged to discuss the opportunity for continuing the
program.
WFP organization provides food aid particularly to the elderly,
families having many children, the disabled and refugees and also
conducts trainings for farmers as well as provides food to 11
thousand schoolchildren in four Armenia’s provinces and implements
Food for Work program.
WFP cooperates with the U.S. agents, with World Vision Armenia and
Ìission -Armenia organizations M.V. -0–
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RA GOVERNMENT ALLOTS AMD 190 MLN FOR MAKING OF JUBILEE MEDALS
DEDICATED TO 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF VICTORY IN GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR
YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. The RA Government allotted AMD 190 mln for
making of jubilee medals dedicated to 60th anniversary of victory in
Great Patriotic War, Public Relations and Press Department of RA
Government told ARKA News Agency today. ($1 = AMD 468,23). L.V. –0–
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ARMENIA’S UN REPRESENTATIVE ARMEN MARTIROSYAN: REPORT MADE BY OSCE
MISSION TO CHECK FACTS IS FAVORABLE FOR ARMENIA
YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. Report made by OSCE Mission to Check Facts
is favorable for Armenia, as Armenia’s UN Representative Armen
Martirosyan told journalists today. In his words, contrary to Azeri
side’s expectations, the Mission found no facts confirming
allegations that Armenia pursues policy of Azerbaijani territories
settlement, excepting Lachin area, which has always been mentioned in
a separate clause of all documents. `We have always said settlement
is nowhere but Lachin and the OSCE Co-chairs have corroborated that’,
Martirosyan said.
In his opinion, the report will ease tension around Armenia. ‘But
another issue appeared: how Azerbaijan is going to act in the created
situation, especially taking into consideration the bellicose
statements made by Azerbaijani side and the destructive stance taken
by Azeri authorities and taking into account that those statements
are being made for internal consumption to present another victory to
Azeri people’, he said.
Martirosyan also said the report would be published soon and
available for everybody. M.V. -0–
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CHIEF OF RA POLICE, HEAD OF OSCE YEREVAN OFFICE SIGN AGREEMENT ON
RENOVATION OF RA POLICE TRAINING CENTER
YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. Chief of the RA Police, Lieutenant-General
Haik Harutyunyan and Head of the OSCE Yerevan office Vladimir
Pryakhin signed an Agreement on Renovation of the RA Police training
center. The OSCE Yerevan office reports that the signing of the
agreement inaugurates the first stage of a program of assistance to
the RA Police. The agreement is aimed at bringing the main training
terms to conformity with the European experience. The document also
envisages the provision of equipment and teaching aids to the Center.
`This day is a turning point in our work under the program of
assistance to the RA Police, as this initiative is a basis for
forming a well trained municipal force,’ Pryakhin said during the
signing ceremony. He added that the document is a good example of
mutually advantageous and constructive cooperation between Armenia
and the OSCE, which is aimed at developing democratic institutions
for the Armenian people’s benefit. In his turn, Chief of the RA
Police Haik Harityunyan pointed out that the program envisages the
creation of necessary conditions for the development of modern police
training.
A memorandum of understanding signed in July 2003 stipulates four
main directions of the assistance program: renovation of the training
center, its strengthening, introduction of a municipal police model
in one of the Yerevan communities and the elaboration of a new
signal-response system.
The program is to be implemented by the OSCE Yerevan office in
cooperation with the RA Police, under the direction of the Department
for Strategic police Affairs, OSCE Secretariat in Vienna. The program
is being sponsored by Belgium, the USA and Sweden. P.T. -0–