MARCH 1: NOT PART OF INTERNAL CORRUPTION?

A1+
[06:26 pm] 09 December, 2008

Thirty Armenian prosecutors, ten investigators from the special
investigative service, ten police investigators, two NSS officials,
two officials of the tax service, two customs officials have joined
the representatives of the U.S. corresponding bodies to find out how
they can fight against corruption.

How appropriate and effective is it for Armenian experts to leave
work and participate in the conference held on the U.S. Department of
Justice on "Successful Techniques for the Investigation and Prosecution
of Corruption"? RA Deputy Prosecutor General Armen Danielyan explained
to "A1+".

"I hope that this will be just one of the conferences and that we will
have the opportunity to get acquainted with procedures in the U.S. We
must free ourselves from corruption at the political, governmental
and economic levels in order to create a democratic society."

Danileyan doesn’t believe that Armenians lack the will to fight
against corruption. "As Deputy Prosecutor General, I assure you
that the Prosecutor General is willing to support the fight against
corruption and we will engage journalists in the process."

How do you envision the fight against corruption when many Armenian
citizens distrust prosecutors and complain about prosecutors? In
response to this, Danielyan said:

"We can always say that there are people who lack trust. I believe
that the behavior of a state official may serve as a basis to form
public opinion that there is corruption in government."

Why don’t people trust the Prosecution General? Head of the department
of fight against corruption and organized crimes of the RA Prosecution
General Armen Arshafyan had this to say to that:

"The people lack trust not only in prosecutors, but also many state
structures. We must gradually overcome that barrier with your help."

Today’s conference did not touch upon the events of March 1, even from
the aspects of loss or increase in people’s trust in prosecutors and
the courts.

Since U.S. Prosecutor Steven Kessler believes that the goal of the
conference is to make it easier for citizens to complain to the
police. "A1+" asked Kessler why the conference overlooked the events
of March 1.

"We haven’t touched upon those issues because what we are discussing
refers to the fight against corruption," said Mr. Kessler and added:
"I understand that citizens are not satisfied with the work of the
police and prosecutors, but I hope that Armenian judges and prosecutors
will reach success and will take into account the decisions of the
European Court."