YEREVAN UNABLE TO RECOMMEND AN OSCE EXTRA-

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