STATEMENT OF ARTUR BAGHDASARYAN, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
April 6 2006

On the occasion of the establishment of the Armenian National Chapter
of “Global Organization of Parliamentarians Fighting Corruption”
(GOPAC), and taking into account the procedures of that world
organization, Artur Baghdasaryan, Speaker of the National Assembly,
made a statement, where it reads: “On the initiative of the National
Assembly within the framework of international anti-corruption
conference to be held in Yerevan, having as a basis the agreement
made with John Williams, Chairman of “Global Organization of
Parliamentarians Fighting Corruption” (GOPAC), an Armenian National
Chapter of GOPAC was established with the participation of the MPs
of all factions/group presented in the National Assembly.

“Global Organization of Parliamentarians Fighting Corruption” was
established in 2002 on the initiative of the parliamentarians of
more than 70 countries by the assistance of the World Bank and other
international authoritative institutions and is aimed at promoting
the strengthening of the monitoring role of the parliaments with the
participation of all concerned actors against corruption, boosting
the deepening of democratic developments. This global organization has
regional and national institutions in all the countries and regions,
where the corruption continues to remain the hindering factor of the
development of the societies and where the fighting against those
phenomena is highlighted.

By establishing the Armenian National Chapter of GOPAC we once again
re-establish the necessity and resolve of eradicating the corruption
in our country. I’m confident that the consistent combating against
corruption and the unbiased application of the law will greatly
promote the deepening of democratic reforms, the development of free
and competitive market. It’s without doubt that the participation and
effective cooperation through the parliament, civil society institutes
and mass media will greatly promote the defeat of corruption, which
finally is accompanied with the victory of democracy.