US embassy cable - 05YEREVAN168

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000168 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREL, ABUD, AFIN, KCRM, KJUS, PHUM, AM, OSCE 
SUBJECT:  YEREVAN UNABLE TO RECOMMEND AN OSCE EXTRA- 
BUDGETARY PROJECT 
 
REF:  STATE 04892 
 
(U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Please protect 
accordingly. 
 
1. (SBU) The OSCE's program of criminal justice reform 
in Armenia has had several positive effects, including 
support and training for a fledgling prison monitoring 
board and minor improvement of living conditions at 
several prisons.  Post cannot recommend additional 
funding for the project at this time, however, because 
local plans for project expansion remain undefined. 
Post and the OSCE representative agreed that the 
ongoing "Criminal Justice Programme:  Assistance in 
Developing and Promoting Criminal Justice Reform under 
OSCE Commitments" is the best extra-budgetary program 
currently offered in the area of human rights for 
Armenia, but local OSCE plans for expansion of the 
project are insufficient to recommend increased 
funding, and the representative is unable to provide us 
with an expanded program description. 
 
2. (SBU) In general, local OSCE representatives suggest 
expanding the current program to include training 
prison guards, training Procuracy officials in the 
prosecution of domestic abuse, and developing judicial 
alternative sentencing guidelines with the Ministry of 
Justice.  At this time, however, local OSCE 
representatives have no concrete proposals.  We will 
continue to work with the OSCE to help them as they 
develop a proposal we can recommend to the USOCSE 
Mission. 
EVANS