PRESS RELEASE
September 23, 2004
American University of Armenia Corporation
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Contact: Gohar Momjian
E-mail: [email protected]
New Generation of Armenian Lawyers Speaks Out Against Corruption
YEREVAN – The AUA Department of Law and its Shitak Student Law Club hosted a
three-hour conference, `The New Generation of Armenian Lawyers Against
Corruption,’ on September 18, 2004. Members of Armenia’s courts system and
civil service spoke out against corruption and criticized what one of them
called a `culture’ of tolerance for corruption.
The panelists, some of them from the top levels of the Armenian government,
spoke out about their efforts to curb corruption. More than 75 members of
the community attended. The significant community interest in the event was
echoed by the interest from the news media. The event was broadcast on seven
local television stations and on National State Radio.
Speakers discussed their battle against corruption in the judiciary, the
role of civil servants in the anti-corruption struggle, and the
anti-corruption struggle of Armenia’s prosecutors, which is known locally as
the Procuracy. The program concluded with a premiere showing of the
25-minute documentary film `Corruption: from Cradle to Grave,’ which was
produced in Yerevan by Bars Media with the assistance of the AUA Law
Department.
Matthew Karanian, Associate Dean of the Law Department at AUA, introduced
the panelists and told attendees that corruption is a problem worldwide, and
that Armenia has taken great strides to eliminate it. `Armenia’s situation
is not unique.’ Karanian, a trial lawyer from the US, noted that corruption
in American courts is kept in check partly by strong local and state bar
associations. `The lawyers are vigilant,’ he said.
AUA law student Mariam Badalyan served as moderator. Top-level government
officials who spoke included Davit Khachaturyan, the Advisor to the Council
of Court Chairmen; Armen Boshnaghyan, the Senior Prosecutor of the
Department of the Protection of Accusation in Courts, RA General Procuracy;
Bagrat Yesayan, a Member of the State Council on Anti-Corruption; and Ara
Nazaryan, a Member of the Republic of Armenia Council of Civil Service.
Stephen R. Barnett, the Dean of the Law Department at AUA, noted that
`corruption is a critical problem that must be overcome in building
Armenia’s future.’ According to Barnett, `the problem won’t be overcome
unless it is frankly and openly discussed. The students of AUA’s Shitak Law
Club therefore have made a vital contribution in organizing the panel
discussion.’ Speakers were all engaged together in `examining the problem
of corruption and seeking solutions that work. The AUA Law Department is
proud to sponsor this event.’
The panel discussion was intended to encourage public participation in the
anti-corruption struggle in Armenia, as well as to raise public awareness on
its developments. This was one of a series of conferences that AUA sponsors
throughout the year.
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The American University of Armenia is registered as a non-profit educational
organization in both Armenia and the United States and is affiliated with
the Regents of the University of California. Receiving major support from
the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading to the Masters Degree in eight
graduate programs. For more information about AUA, visit
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress