DEPUTY CURSES CORRUPT AUTHORITIES
Panorama.am
15:20 05/10/06
Convention on Corruption raised a clamor in the parliament giving
chance to the opposition to criticize corrupt authorities. The
convention is signed in New York on October 31, 2003. Independent
deputy Tatul Manaseryan has been trying since yesterday to clarify
why Armenia does not call World Bank (WB) to responsibility for its
report which says that corruption is growing in Armenia especially
in customs. "We must be persistent and punish the corrupt officials
or else we must call for responsibility those institutes that make
discrediting statements," Manaseryan said. The deputy informed his
colleagues that WB has assigned its units to name officials who are
involved in bribery or give bribes. Manaseryan hoped that Armenian
officials will also be named.
The convention proposes publicity and transparency in the fight
against corruption. It also obliged those countries that ratify it
to set up expert groups that will fight against corruption.
United Working Party (UWP) will vote for the convention because the
party leaders say it is compatible with the party directives. UWP
leader, Gurgen Arsenyan, even cursed those officials who are engaged in
corruption wishing them not to enjoy the property they have collected
through bribery.
Justice block secretary, Grigor Harutunyan, believes that the
convention is under discussion at the parliament now only because of
elections. Vahan Hovhannisyan, vice speaker, tried to take the blame
from the executive saying it was the obligation of the parliament
to ratify it. "If we were not ready for that, let’s confess it,"
also saying many other countries have not ratified it yet. Justice
Minister David Harutunyan also said ratification is a long process.
If the parliament ratifies the convention and after 30 days it
comes into effect, several legislative amendments are expected. Time
will show how the government will launch the actual fight against
corruption. /Panorama.am/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
