Mr. Karen Zadoyan, AYLA President, “Multi-Faceted Anti-Corruption Promotion” Project Manager, Coordinator of the Secretariat of the CSOs’ Anti-Corruption Coalition opened the ceremony with a welcoming speech.

“You know that this day is celebrated all over the world. People who attach importance to anti-corruption values, honesty, integrity, and other values gather together. Last year the UN Anti-Corruption Coalition celebrated this day under the motto “Break the Corruption Chain.” It is important this year as well, and the 16th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC), which took place in 2015, added another important motto to lead the entire movement. It was “Ending Impunity: People, Integrity, Action!” You know this is really very important for us and…” Karen Zadoyan’s speech was interrupted by the flash mob of the students of the Anti-Corruption School for Young Leaders, who stepped forward with the calls, “Corruption leads to corrosion of the state apparatus; Fight against corruption is intolerance of CSOs; Break the corruption chain through ending impunity!”

The following speeches were not accompanied by flash mobs. Mr. Suren Krmoyan, the RA Deputy Minister of Justice in his speech mentioned that one of the most important achievement in 2015 was the fact that it was possible to mobilize the international donor organizations, CSOs and government bodies in the fight against corruption. “This year, we have worked constructively and participatory. The most important task and the goal that we set for ourselves was involvement of the society and business in the fight against corruption. This fight is not only the problem of government agencies but also of the whole society and each citizen. I urge everyone to join this struggle and to be intolerant towards any occurrence of corruption,” Mr. Krmoyan said.

“The fight against corruption is a priority for the OSCE Office in Yerevan,” Mr. Andrey Sorokin Ambassador, the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan said. “The OSCE Office pays great attention to anti-corruption reforms. We also support the active participation of NGOs in monitoring the reform process. The Office also participates in various events aimed at raising awareness on corruption issues,” Mr. Sorokin said.

Mr. Jose-Maria Medina-Navarro, Deputy Head of the Cooperation Section at the EU Delegation to Armenia, stressing the importance of this day, talked about the criminalization of illicit enrichment. He also noted that it was a platform that allows them to effectively collaborate with the Ministry of Justice and civil society.

He also mentioned the fact that of the creation of Anti-Corruption Platform in Armenia, which allows the civil society and the Ministry of Justice to collaborate effectively.

The award ceremony followed the speeches. Mrs. Haykanush Tutunjyan received the award “Citizen of the Year.” An elderly woman displayed principle approach and action to protect her infringed rights. She barely managed to express her gratitude and thank to Yerevan Anti-Corruption center for the support in restoring her violated rights and tears did not allow her to speak. Mr. Andrey Sorokin Ambassador, the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan handed the award.

Ms. Nelli Babayan, journalist of “Aravot” Daily was recognized the “Journalist of the Year” for raising the corruption issues that exist in business sphere. “CivilNet” was recognized “Mass Media of the Year” for the TV Series “From Your Pocket” where the corruption problems in the area of public procurements were raised. Ms. Ani Saginjanova, Deputy Head of Mission of the Czech Embassy to the RA, and Mr. Jose-Maria Medina-Navarro, Deputy Head of the Cooperation Section at the EU Delegation to Armenia handed the awards.

“The Green Bean” Coffee Shop was awarded the prize “Business Organization of the Year” for voicing the corruption problems in business sphere. Ms. Judith Margaret Farnworth, Ambassador of the UK to the RA handed the award.

Ms. Ani Samsonyan, Student of the Anti-Corruption School for Young Leaders received the award of the RA Ministry of Justice “Young Citizen of the Year” for elaboration of the best script of anti-corruption film. Mr. Suren Krmoyan, the RA Deputy Minister of Justice handed the award.

Civic Initiative for the Protection of Rights of Persons recognized as Temporary Disabled was awarded the prize “CSO of the Year” for the protection of maternity rights.

The Former Minister of Justice of the RA Hovhannes Manukyan and Mr. Rainer Wilke, 1st Secretary of the German Embassy to RA handed the award.

“A lot has been said about the corruption issues, as well as about the ways and methods of combatting corruption. I want to draw your attention to a very important fact: We have repeatedly emphasized that this struggle is only possible under conditions of clear political will. I want to specially emphasize in the context of this award that this will does refer exclusively to the State. All state agencies and institutions that should be involved in fight against corruption, the state, mass media, the citizens, all of them should have definite expression of will to be able to effectively realize all those steps and objectives,” Hovhannes Manukyan stressed in his speech.

After the award ceremony the CSOs’ Anti-Corruption Coalition member organizations received commendation letters.

Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, representatives of international and public organizations, the civil society organizations and media organizations from Yerevan and the regions were invited to participate in the event.

Annual Award Ceremony dedicated to the International Anti-Corruption Day was organized by the Armenian Young Lawyers Association NGO in cooperation with CSOs’ Anti-Corruption Coalition in the framework of “Multi-Faceted Anti-Corruption Promotion” project NGO funded by European Union and co-funded by the OSCE Office in Yerevan, and implemented by the Armenian Young Lawyers Association and the partner organization “Freedom of Information Center” NGO.

Gevorg Tosunyan

Iravaban.net