ABOUT CORROSIVE POWER OF MONEY AND SOCIETY BLIGHTED BY CORRUPTION

A1 Plus | 15:55:46 | 16-09-2004 | Social |

Armenian Center for National and International Studies held a
discussion Thursday over the results of Corruption in Armenia survey
conducted by the Center.{BR}

37% of 1956 respondents were offered bribe at the 2003 presidential
and parliamentary elections. 32,5% of them have taken it.

The survey shows corruption in Armenia is considered as political
phenomenon. 42,8% think current authorities formed thank to bribe
and fraud has to protect those who helped them to come to power and
retain it.

19,4% find corruption the most effective way for accumulation of
wealth.

Head of Economic Researches Center Ashot Tavadyan doesn’t share
opinion that Armenian people tolerate bribery and have come to terms
with that phenomenon.

He says this idea is imposed by the authorities and added that
people become indifferent when see their complaints remain fallen
into neglect.

In Tavadyan’s opinion, broadly-worded state program against corruption
provides no clear idea about the steps to be taken.

He says there are many absurd provisions in the program such as a
statement that Customs Services not National Assembly are in charge
of legislative changes in custom area.

Tavadyan said the government program had been taken sceptically by
25,3% of respondents, 69,3% found it hard to answer the question and
only 4,9% were optimistic about the program.

“Corrupted authorities can’t struggle against themselves”, said the
majority of the survey respondents.