EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICANEWS RELEASE
1 AMERICAN AVENUE
YEREVAN, ARMENIA
TELEPHONE (+374 10) 464700
FAX (+374 10) 464742
E-MAIL: [email protected]
September 1, 2006
There has been a great deal of media commentary in recent days about an
alleged tape that the U.S. Ambassador is said to have conveyed to President
Kocharian implicating a government minister for corruption. We are unaware
of the existence of any such tape, and have not conveyed any tape to the
President. We have a continuing dialogue with Armenian government officials
at many levels on the well-known problem of official corruption. When we
become aware of credible allegations of corruption, we of course convey this
information to appropriate Armenian officials at a high level. We strongly
urge Armenian officials to investigate and prosecute corruption allegations,
and especially those involving government ministers or other senior
officials. Armenia cannot develop into a fully successful democratic and
economically sound state without assurance of integrity at all levels of
government.
