6.04.2006

The consistent fight against corruption is a political necessity for Armenia. On the pathway to consistent deepening of democratic reforms, formation of free and competitive market, the corruption phenomena serve as serious hindrances. Bribery, hopeless rates of shadow economy, bureaucratic delays, the application of non-transparent methods in certain administrative circles hinder the process of reforms. Taking into account the importance of this international conference about strengthening the fight against corruption, the role of parliaments,civil society and mass media in this process, I would like to draw your attention on some issues.

First, the transparent and effective activities of state-governmental bodies are closely related with the problems of fighting against corruption. We can not spend simultaneously both much and badly. We must cut and consolidate the state expenditures, increase their effectiveness. The results of state-governmental bodies’ activities must be transparent, overseen and evaluated. They should be obliged to provide high results for expenditures. For instance, in the advanced western world the state expenses are high, the evaluation criteria are strict, activities are public, open to monitoring and available for the public and civil sector.

Second, the role of consistent and unbiased application of law is great in the fight against corruption. There should not be privileged people before the law; the law should not be powerless in the fight against anarchy, unsubstantiated bureaucratic delays, abuse of state power and other vicious phenomena. The protection of citizens’ rights and duties must be viewed as a state priority.

Third, in the Tax and Customs structures the fight against shadow economy, corruption and bribery must be strengthened. Effective tax and customs governance may greatly support the decrease of corruption risks if it is guided by continuous reforms.

I deeply believe that the punishing contents of tax and customs system should be changed by such a system which would revitalize the faith of businessmen and employees, a system which is paying for an initiation, supports efforts, provides progress. This means a change in the philosophy of state – tax-payer relations, this means a trust towards the employer, make him/her a collaborator and cut taxes. In my belief, the less the taxes the more the liberties and the more motivated the taxes are the better the economy and the people of a state are.

Four, it is not possible to achieve success in the fight against corruption without serious reforms in the judiciary and law-enforcing system. The law must not be tacit, especially in those fields where illegalities are mushrooming. The fight against corruption and bribery must be priority in the judiciary system, which would in its turn support the restitution of people’s trust toward the victory of justice and legality. Both in the protection of human rights and the economic development the establishment of independent judiciary system is a political priority for Armenia.

Five, citizens must be aware of their rights, because it is obvious that bad laws and decisions provide good opportunities for abuses. The motto ‘if you do not know your rights you have no rights’ today sounds more than actual, because in many cases the nescience of law provides fertile ground for the development of corruption. People should know that awareness of law may rescue them of responsibilities, but nescience will never. Besides, the citizen armed with rights is always more protected. This is the reason why we must initiate serious steps on this path with all the other interested international organizations.

Six, for achieving success in the fight against corruption the active role of civil society is greatly important. In my opinion the foreign aids for economic developments may have purposeful results if they are guided by fostering of democratic reforms as well as by active public monitoring. I am glad that in the MCC program a great role is endowed on public monitoring. Supporting this process we are sure that it would create transparency and trustfulness to this most important program.

Seven, the role of independent press and mass media is pivotal in the fight against corruption. It is well-known that abuses and illegalities in several areas are not few in our reality. In the studies of only Control Chamber there are several evidences. The same concerns the shortcomings pointed out by the World Bank and other financial structures. I am sure that the revelation and targeting of those phenomena, appropriate public monitoring, the discoveries of corruption cases by mass media will make the activities of governmental bodies and officials more respectable.

Eight, it is well-known that the parliamentarian monitoring over budget procedures, credits and loans in many democratic countries around the world has a significant role. In this sense the membership of the National Assembly of Armenia in GOPAC (Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption) and the foundation of its national chapter in Armenia is very important, a chapter we are sure would have its input in the fight against corruption. In this context it is very important within the frames of the amended constitution to adopt a new law on the Control Chamber and to strengthen the parliamentarian monitoring over the effectiveness of the use of credits and loans.

Nine, corruption is ubiquitous, this mere fact requires from us a consistent and systematic fight. The legislative and institutional reforms, the consistent application of law, the active struggle of civil society against the ‘shadow rights’, public discussions devoted to forestall corruption (such as conferences, round-tables, seminars, etc.) could greatly contribute to focusing the public attention on the fight against corruption and on the indefatigable fight against corruption.

Ten, central in the fight against corruption must be the feeling of the inevitability of responsibility. For that reason we should pay not only serious attention on corruption cases and manifestations, but also take steps for calling the culprits to responsibility, i.e. the inevitability of responsibility essentially reduces the level of corruption.

We could talk about corruption much bringing other arguments and approaches as well, but as a summary, I would like to connect the successful fight against corruption with the progress of democracy, because democracy means transparency, supervision, public monitoring and other pivotal contents, that is to say everything which is necessary for achieving success in this difficult struggle.