AZG Armenian Daily #064, 08/04/2006

Parliamentary issues

PARLIAMENTARY STRUGGLE AGAINST CORRUPTION

Various foreign parliamentarians, international experts,
representatives of the public sector and journalists participated at
“Role of RA National Assembly and Civil Society in Struggle against
Corruption” Summit held at RA National Assembly, yesterday.

The participants of the summit touched upon such issues as the
cooperation of the parliament and the civil society, the role of the
mass media in the struggle against corruption and the public control
bodies as measures for anti-corruption struggle.

“The consistent anti-corruption struggle is a political demand for
Armenia,” Artur Baghdasarian, Chairman of RA National Assembly, said
in the opening speech of the summit. He also pointed out several
principles of the anti-corruption struggle, i.e. to reduce the state
expenses, to apply laws, to strengthen the anti-corruption struggle in
the tax and customs’ systems, to improve the judiciary system, the
awareness of the citizens, public monitoring and the role of the mass
media, as well as the parliamentary control.

US Ambassador to RA John Evans reminded in his speech of the donation
Armenia received within the framework of “Millenium Challenges”
program. He said that USA emphasizes the importance of anti-corruption
struggle. He added that Armenia is ready to take measures to develop
democratic values and struggle corruption, adding that his country
will assist Armenia.

Andrea Harris, Deputy-Chairwoman of “Eurasia” Fund, Consuelo Vidal, UN
Permanent Coordinator, Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE Office in
Armenia, also held speeches at the summit. Mr. Pryakhin told the
journalists that Armenia has recently fixed success in the
anti-corruption struggle, adding that still there is much to do in
this direction.

All the participants of the summit welcomed Armenia’s membership to
GOPAC

By Marieta Khachatrian