PM: ARMENIA IN NEED OF MORE VIGOROUS CRACKDOWN ON CORRUPTION

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Nov 12 2007

YEREVAN, November 12. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan,
whose candidacy was put up Saturday by Republican Party of Armenia
for presidential elections, said more vigorous crackdown on corruption
is needed in the country.

Speaking Saturday at the party’s 11th congress, he said that
psychological complexes must be overcome and atmosphere of intolerance
toward corruption created in Armenia for rooting out this phenomenon
and ridding the country of it.

"We mustn’t consider those people evading taxes as our friends and
fellow partisans", he said.

Sargsyan pointed out corrosive effect of corruption saying this is
the worst disease destroying the country.

"We will demand law enforcement agencies to intensify their combat
against corruption and will make solved crimes subjects of public
discussions", he said adding that this anti-corruption campaign must
be headed by the president.

The premier also said that prosecutor office’s as well as tax and
customs agencies’ activities must become more transparent.