VISA AND PASSPORT DEPARTMENT MUST BE CLEARED OF BRIBERY: ARMENIAN PREMIER

ARKA
June 26

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan has instructed Armenian Police
Chief Alik Sargsyan to prepare a package of proposals on measures
which are necessary to eradicate bribery in the country’s visa and
passport department.

"Only well-prepared and prompt measures are able to improve the
operation of this department," the premier stated at the regular
government meeting.

Sargssyan stressed that dozens of people, both citizens of Armenia and
those arriving from Diaspora, complain of this department’s operations.

"The bribery problem is obviously serious in this sphere. The
department provides services on behalf of the government but they fix
their own tariffs and charge money from the people," the premier said
stressing that the situation can’t be tolerated.

The minister also talked of the reports on violation of traffic
rules. They violate the traffic rules everywhere in Armenia, he said.

"Traffic rules are breached both by oligarchs and by common citizens,"
the premier noted.

Sargssyan said the Police Chief is doing a good job now reforming
the traffic rules in Armenia.

"Of course, the primary targets of our reforms are the oligarchs. If
we manage to make them obey the rules, we will find it easier to
change the situation in general," the premier said.