Non conformity of established rates and the amounts paid by the citizens; collection of extra money from the citizens for typing services provide by the typists; failure to provide financial documents for the fees charged from the citizens for other technical work performed, which is not included in the notary service fee. These are the two system level violations that are systematic in the Notary System. The results of the public monitoring conducted by the Armenian Young Lawyers Association in 2013 in the Notary System prove this.
The monitoring was conducted in the framework of OSCE Yerevan Office supported “Ensuring Public Monitoring and Transparency” project.
“When we were implementing the first monitoring in 2009, there was a really negative attitude to is on the side of the Ministry of Justice and the notaries public. It seemed that like we were some kind of supervisory body. However, later this turned ino a positive collaboration,” Karen zadoyan, President of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association said.
Compared with the monitoring in 2009 and 2011, the Monitoring Report 2013, recorded reforms in the service delivery sphere of the notary System. Currently, the Notary Offices are in good conditions, the price list posters have been changed and new posters are added. However, still the system has not got rid of the corruption risks that occur in the payment process.
“I welcome the fact that the project was implemented based on the reasonable and objective indicators, which enable to identify the development of the notary system. The Ministry of Justice urges everyone to join efforts to support to the development of self government of the Notarial system and public awareness,” Arsen Mkrtchyan, deputy Minister of Justice mentioned.
Only 1% of 453 respondents who participated in the survey complained about the quality of services rendered by the notary. This is a unique indicator, however this does not mean that there are no problems.
“The Armenian Young Lawyers Association, which acted as the implementing partner of this project has an extensive experience and capability in conducting monitoring in the public sector.
We hope that the recommendations developed as the result of this project will be considered by the Ministry. And that necessary procedural and system level changes will follow to eliminate the shortcomings and improve the overall operations of the system,” William Hanlon, Deputy Head of the OSCE office in Yerevan said.
There are still system and procedural level problems in the notary system that needs to be solved. The report included the monitoring results and presented an 11 point package of proposals to the interested parties.
“If there was any discrepancy, I think it has already been settled and the notary system is always open for such objective and accurate control, and monitoring to the extent that the openness of the Notary System allows,” Mamikon Aslanyan, President of the Notary Chamber of the RA said.
At the end of presentation of the Report the Armenian Young Lawyers Association and the Notary Chamber of the RA signed a Letter of Understanding.
