United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Armenia
14, Petros Adamyan St., Yerevan 0010, Armenia
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PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT: Aramazd Ghalamkaryan
E-mail: aramazd.ghalamkaryan@undp.org

NINE OUT OF TEN RESPONDENTS CONSIDER CORRUPTION A PROBLEM OR A BIG
PROBLEM IN ARMENIA

31.01.2007

Yerevan, Armenia

Nine out of ten citizens consider corruption as a problem or a major
problem in Armenia. In addition, nine out of ten respondents stressed
that free and fair elections is one of the solutions to improve the
anti-corruption situation in Armenia.

These findings were presented today in Yerevan, Armenia, at the
presentation of the "2006 Corruption Perception Survey in Armenia"
publication.

The survey was conducted in July-December 2006 by the Center for
Regional Development/Transparency International Armenia (CRD/TI Armenia)
with the support of UNDP Armenia Office, and the results were presented
by the Chairwoman of the CRD/TI Armenia Ms. Amalya Kostanyan.

The event brought together public figures, representatives of NGOs and
international organizations, as well as mass media. Ms. Consuelo Vidal,
head of UN and UNDP in Armenia, Mr. Vladimir Pryakhin, head of OSCE
Office in Armenia, Ms. Bojana Urumova, Representative of the Council of
Europe in Armenia, and Ms. Anna Aghadjanian, representative of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia were key speakers at the event.

Transparency International Armenia has carried out a similar survey in
2002, and analogous survey questionnaire was developed in 2006 to ensure
comparison with the previous data.

The results of the 2006 survey indicate that citizens of Armenia are
still very much concerned about corruption. Nine out of ten respondents
view corruption as a "problem" or a "major problem" in Armenia.
Meanwhile, 40% of the respondents consider corruption as "crime" and 12%
– as an "immoral behavior".

In 2006, nearly five times more interviewees (68%) than in 2002 (14%)
stated that corruption has always existed in Armenia. The majority of
interviewees (64%) believe that the level of corruption has increased
during the last three years.

Most people both in 2002 and 2006 still think that bribery and abuse of
public office for personal gain are the main manifestations of
corruption. They still believe that the state authorities are those who
mainly initiate corruption and that more corruption occurs in the high
level of the Armenian government system.

However, the responses concerning the most corrupt institutions
(structures) have changed since 2002. While the prosecution system was
mentioned again in 2006, the Prime Minister’s Office and the courts that
were mentioned in 2002 were replaced by the Prime Minister and the
Ministers in 2006.

As to the most corrupt sectors and services, the traffic police are
still perceived by the public as very corrupt (68%). In addition, the
majority of respondents selected the electoral system (74%) and the tax
service (63%) as most corrupt, while in 2002 the military and health
sector were given similar marks.

Whereas the majority of the 2002 respondents thought that the main
causes of corruption are poor law enforcement, imperfect legislation and
inefficient control and punishment mechanisms, in 2006 an increased
number of interviewees were inclined to see public tolerance as one of
the major causes of corruption in Armenia.

According to the findings of the 2006 survey, 70% of the public is not
aware about the Anti-Corruption Strategy, 85% – about the
Anti-Corruption Council and 91% – about its Monitoring Commission, as
well as about Armenia’s international obligations in the fight against
corruption (84%).

While prioritizing the solutions to improve the current situation, nine
out of ten respondents pointed to a necessity of ensuring free and fair
elections.

They also referred to strengthening law enforcement (94%) and punishment
of those involved in corruption (92%) as a key to the success of
reducing corruption in the country.

Both in 2002 and 2006, the majority of interviewees continue to believe
that the President of the country could play a determining role in
reducing corruption in Armenia. More than half of the respondents felt
that people themselves cannot do anything.

In 2006, 40% of the respondents said they could not justify corruption
at all. In 2006, 50% of respondents answered that they would not take
bribes since it is unacceptable for them, whereas in 2002 only 17% of
the respondents were of the same opinion.

The publication will be available on website soon.

* * *

For further information please contact:

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
14, Petros Adamyan Street, Yerevan, 0010, Armenia.
Tel.: (+37410) 566 073, Fax: (+37410) 543 811.
E-mail: aramazd.ghalamkaryan@undp.org;
Website:

and/or

Center For Regional Development/ Transparency International Armenia
5 Nalbandyan St., Rooms 35/38, Yerevan 0010, Armenia.
Tel: (+37410) 585 578, 526 914, Fax: (+37410) 585 578.
E-mail: crd@transparency.am;
Website: