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US Ambassador’s suggestions on fighting against corruption

February 02,2017 05:31

“The link between corruption and economic development, and between corruption and rule of law, have always been apparent, recently we’ve seen more discussion in Armenia about how corruption can impact and threaten national security”, said U.S. ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills during the American Chamber of Commerce of Armenia’s event.

“When I mentioned the intersection between corruption and national security in my speech to the AmCham 15 months ago, many people were surprised, many were dismissive.  I don’t claim credit at all, but I think this issue is now more frankly addressed in Armenian political debates, and with proposals for serious action from the government than it has been in the past.  Certainly, the public discourse during and after the Four-Day War in April highlighted the corrosive effect corruption can have on national security and brought the issue into the public spotlight,” said the ambassador.

According to Richard Mills, the only way to achieve meaningful progress in the fight against corruption is for the government to demonstrate political will, “The government must strengthen and empower public institutions at all levels and send a clear message from on high that corruption will not be tolerated and that no one is above the law.  Absent this message, no truly transformative change can occur.”

Referring to Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan’s public commitment to tackle corruption, the ambassador offers two specific suggestions for the government to consider,”First, I suggest that the government strengthen the independent role and responsibilities of the Ethics Commission on High Ranking Officials.  I applaud the government’s recent step in this direction. Significant changes have been made to the Administrative Violations Code and Criminal Code, providing for fines, criminal sentences, and limitations on holding government positions for 3 years for individuals who submit false income declarations.  But more needs to be done.  One fix would be for the Government to make clear that the launching of an investigation into possible corrupt activities by a government official does not require specific evidence of an actual bribe paid or a favor given, but could be triggered by a prosecutor’s assessment that the assets declared by a government official are so great as to trigger reasonable grounds of suspicion.  Armenian media has done a very good job of analyzing ethics declarations and identifying instances where officials declare assets that are 40, 50 or one hundred times greater than their government salaries, but there was no indication of follow up by the Government.”

Ambassador also suggests the government consider establishing a fully independent anti-corruption body with full investigative and prosecutorial authority,”We have said repeatedly – including in my remarks in November 2015 to all of you – that we are willing to work with any Armenian governmental institution that demonstrates a commitment to fighting corruption, but that at the same time, our continued support for the Council was contingent on the achievement of measurable results.  Because of its lack of progress thus far, less than 2.5% of the money allocated for its support was actually released to the Council.

I hope this fact will assuage the suspicions of the many people who speculated that USAID delivered the entire sum of money to the Council in an unmarked briefcase– we’re the U.S. government, not characters in a James Bond film. We have shared with the Prime Minister our need to see concrete progress from the Council and I know he wants to reshape the Council and its work as well.  Based on the outcome of our discussions with the Prime Minister, we will decide on next steps, including whether to continue our support to the Council or redirect those funds to a different anti-corruption mechanism.”

 

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