In the fight against corruption there is an acute need of eliminating the environment that creates such an opportunity. This is what RA Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan announced during a meeting with TV companies in response to the following question posed by Aram Abrahamyan, a reporter from Shant TV: “Criminalization of illicit enrichment is a well-known term and is currently in use in some countries. In countries where this law does not exist the situation is not necessarily similar to the one we find ourselves in. In other words, if one has illegally become rich, if he/she has stolen off the budget or has taken a bribe then it is a criminal action. And if that country respects the law then there is no need of criminalizing anything. Everything that our officials do is already criminalized.”
In response to this question, the Prime Minister noted, “I am certain that in fighting corruption there is an urgent necessity to abolish the environment that might give rise to corruption. In case the environment remains the same we will never be able to eliminate corruption just by establishing yet another anti-corruption institution. We think we have clearly reflected our considerations on how to minimize that opportunity in the sectors of taxation and customs, as well as in the Government’s decisions, in the field of procurement, in the field of foreign funding, and in the field of creating equal and simple conditions for business.”
Addressing the rest of the question that concerned the existing anti-corruption council and possible changes in its composition (a provision in the new program stipulates a revision), the PM said, “I consider the Anti-Corruption Council to be a necessary institution at this moment. We have to acknowledge that the already existing institutions and environment are not perfect, which is why we are creating an institution that would put together and summarize everything, diagnose the problems and provide certain solutions. We are now attempting to involve society representatives as well to keep the field open. Besides, frankly speaking, the members of the Government are or should be so busy in their day-to-day routine that may miss some signals from the outside. That is how I would put it.”
