“No matter how many anti-corruption programs are initiated or tried to be implemented in Armenia, they are still not enough to prevent the corruption cases or even to curb corruption,” Mane Tandilyan, MP from “Yelk” Alliance said at today’s extraordinary session of the NA.
“If I am not mistaken, the former Anti-Corruption Council received 800000 USD. What was the performance m ad what results it had, how these funds were spent, and whether we and had any effect or not?” the MP directed her question to Arpine Hovhannisyan who introduced the draft.
“In relation with efficiency, we have to consider the fact what instruments that body had had. The Anti-Corruption Council then was an advisory body to discuss this or that question. When you raise the issue of the appropriate amount, you must first clarify why and to do what this sum was provided. The overwhelming part of the money was not spent yet. According to my latest information it was intended by the international organizations for the hiring of international experts, who should provide some support.
The Anti-Corruption Council has been effective from several aspects: a number of important drafts were initiated: illicit enrichment, limiting cash transactions, two models of anti-corruption were discussed. It has had certain efficiency as a platform that should conduct the work. If you talk about the effectiveness of the fight against corruption, maybe the name Anti-Corruption Council is just confusing. The Anti-Corruption Council did not have the authority to investigate, punish or impose administrative sanctions, and neither could it have such.” Arpine Hovhannisyan said.
She also said that it is possible to present a report about how and for what purposes this 800,000 USD has been spend if a corresponding request is sent to the Government.
