ARFD promises GRECO to fight against corruption more effectively together with RPA

The Armenian authorities are spending the international structures' funds provided for the anti-corruption fight, however, they fail to conduct any reforms. The new report published by the Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) is direct evidence of that, Secretary of the Armenian National Congress Faction Aram Manukyan has told ArmInfo.

"Every year the international community provides Armenia with an average of 800 thsd USD to reduce corruption, however, no such a thing is observed. The authorities are spending the money but the situation is changing for the worse. It is a shame," he says. The oppositionist points out that over the past 15 years the corruption index of the republic has deteriorated and Armenia has dropped from the 75th position to the 100th position. He added that due to the "farsighted" policy of the Armenian authorities, Armenia is viewed as one of the most corrupt countries in the region and in the world. 

For his part, Head of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun (ARFD) Faction Armen Rustamyan thinks that it is necessary to follow all the recommendations of the organization and to improve the situation by 2017, when Armenia will issue its own report. "Yes, there are corruption-related in the country and our cooperation with the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) can help resolve them. For that purpose, it is necessary to elaborate an anti-corruption program, to expand the powers of the Ethics Commission, as well as to ensure the independence of the judicial system. I hope the situation will get better by 2017". The ARFD member also points out the need to create a code of conduct for the lawmakers. 

Meanwhile, the head of the RPA Faction confesses that he has not read the GRECO's report, however, he is sure that the situation is not so grave as it is described in the document. Moreover, he says, on Feb 12 Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan voiced that problem and stressed the need to solve it. It is a serious impetus to the anti-corruption process, he says. 

To recall, in the new report published on Feb 25, the Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) notes that corruption remains an important problem for Armenian society, even though the fight against it has been high on the political agenda for years. The report specifically looks at the situation with preventing corruption among parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors. GRECO specifically recommends that the rules on the acceptance of gifts by parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors, as well as on submitting regular asset declarations, on their control and enforcement be further developed and made more effective. Further improving the transparency of the parliamentary process, adopting a code of conduct for members of parliament, preventing circumvention of the restrictions on business activities by parliamentarians, are among other recommendations.

To note, not only international organizations but also the country's opposition and authorities talk about corruption in Armenia. Earlier, the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills stated that the high level of corruption impedes American and other foreign investments in the country and even undermines the national security.