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Lori Anti-Corruption center of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association NGO organized an anti-corruption event “Current Problems in the Spheres of Notary, Civil Status Acts Registration Agency, Compulsory Enforcement Service, Penitentiary Service and the State Register and implemented Reforms” in the framework of “Armenia Against Corruption” project.
Arthur Sukiasyan, Head of Lori Anti-Corruption Center opened the event. He greeted the participants and wished them an open and productive discussion.
Further Mr. Karen Zadoyan, AYLA President and Manager of “Armenia Against Corruption” project took the floor.
He noted the importance of the organization of such event for revealing the corruption problems, “The activities of Notary and Civil Status Acts Registration Agency and other entities that provide public services is very important for us. This is why we conduct regular monitoring activities in the mentioned spheres. Our observations shoe that rather serious reforms have been implemented in the system.”
According to him rather significant changes had been achieved in the notary system, “In the past the system was notably closed and no lawyer was able to access it. However, today the system is notably open. Any lawyer who has a three years’ working record can participate in the tender and get involved in the notary system and this provides opportunity for significant changes in the personnel.”
At the end of his speech the AYLA President noted the importance of participation of the corresponding state bodies in such events.
Referring to the subject, Mr. Arthur Nalbandyan Governor of Lori marz, noted that each of the areas mentioned include corruption risks in their marz, however different reform programs are carried out parallel to it, and these programs are aimed to eliminate this negative phenomenon. “We have signed a Letter of Agreement with AYLA, and it is justified. This already the fifth suchlike event which is organized during the last five months. I can say that we are on the right way.”
According to the Governor, it is necessary to do everything possible to foster the fight against corruption and therefore such events should be continuous.
Mr. Aram Orbelyan, the RA Deputy Minister of Justice, in his speech mentioned: “The fight against corruption does not always lead to raising the level of satisfaction of the citizens. We are doing everything possible so that the citizens shall not suffer as a result of the struggle against corruption.
The Deputy Minister said that the Ministry of Justice carried out regular monitoring, which makes clear in what direction the work should be directed.
In his speech, Mr. Mamikon Aslanyan, President of the Notary Chamber of the RA, first referred to the history of the Notary Chamber, and mentioned that the Notarial system of Armenia is rather young and has only a ten years’ history. Currently the Notary Chamber of the RA is a member of the Latin Notarial Union, which has around 90 member countries.
“The objective of the notary system as well as o the other services that regulate the public sphere is to provide qualified legal services to the public. The mentioned services ensure direct contact with the public, and as a result different complaints and dissatisfactions may occur. These may be both objective and subjective,” the President of the Notary Chamber said and added that the notary system of course had some omissions, but it had registered definite success as well, “The main reason for the complaints is resulted by the level of social and economic development of the country as well as from the level of legal consciousness of the public.”
He also hoped that the perception among the public that the notary public is merely a person who stamps the documents and collects money shall vanish among the public.
It is notable that personnel changes had taken place in the notary system as well. The number of the notary officers has increased and now it is around 90 against the former 70 officers.
In his closing speech, Mr. Arthur Sukiasyan, Head of Lori ACC presented all complaints against the above mentioned entities that provide public services, which Lori ACC had received.
