Despite the fact that yesterday the agenda of today’s Government Session did not have point 27, but today this point was included part by part.
Regarding this issue, the Government approved the procedures for establishing of the Anti-Corruption Council, Experts Commission, and the composition of the Council, the operation of the Council, the experts’ committee and the Monitoring Department of Anti-Corruption programs of the Staff of the Republic of Armenia’s Government.
Hovhannes Manukyan, the RA Minister of Justice introduced the Draft, which clearly shows that the Council will include 2 representatives of the civil society, on a competitive basis. In fact the applications and proposals of numerous SCOs, as well as calls of international organizations to expand the involvement of NGO sector were not accepted.
The draft also stipulates that the RA Prime Minister should apply to the President of the RA National Assembly and the Chairman of the Union of Communities of Armenia to include in the composition of the Council one member from each opposition faction of the NA correspondingly and one member from the Union of Communities of Armenia within fifteen days.
Hovhannes Manukyan informed that the document was circulated and at the same time added that public debates were held about it as well.
Earlier, in the framework of the public debates, which the Minister mentioned, the NGOs had presented a lot of suggestions and recommendations. Specifically the Anti-Corruption Coalition, which includes around 70 NGOs, had proposed to expand the number of NGOs in the Council; to include the social area as a target sphere; and to introduce the institute of illicit enrichment: The Freedom of Information Center supported this view. Another participant of the discussion – Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center offered not to include any representatives of the NGO sector in the Council, so that the NGOs will not legitimize the decisions of the state bodies.
All the mentioned proposals were not accepted. Hovhannes Manukyan did not tell what was accepted and what was not accepted as a result of the public debates.
The Former Minister of Justice Hrayr Tovmasyan, the current Chief of Staff, General Secretary of the NA Staff had questions to the Minister of Justice. “Mister Minister, in your report you said that the representatives of the parliamentary factions should be included in the Council, whereas the text mentions opposition factions exclusively,” he said. Hovhannes Manukyan clarified that the Government implied just the opposition. “Here it is provided apply to the NA President, although it is indicated in the list ‘with consent’, but if there is the issue of introducing to the NA President independently, then it is not correct in the political aspect, if they should apply to them, then it is necessary to change to ‘apply to the factions’ ‘to their representatives,’” Mr. Tovmasyan said. Hovhannes Manukyan answered, “In fact, the factions present, but these actions will be realized through the president of the National Assembly.”
Hrayr Tovmasyan continued, “In this case, it is more desirable to apply directly to the opposition factions, so that they will nominate their representatives.” The Minister replied, “I have a different opinion.” The Prime Minister responded, “I think it is right,” and then turned to Hrayr Tovmasyan saying, “Do you want to apply to the opposition factions directly?” The ex-Minister replied, “Because they are their representatives.” The Prime Minister concluded by saying, “I think we’re doing the right thing, Mr. Tovmasyan, close the topic.”
With regard to the draft, it is seen that the Government intends to establish the Council by all means, notwithstanding whether it will include representatives of opposition factions and non-governmental organizations, or not.
According to the government, the main activities of the Council will be approving the strategy, discuss the issues of the spheres, control and so on. According to the Government, the Council also has the right to submit proposals to the relevant authorities, request reports and analyzes, organize and conduct discussions, meetings and hearings.
It is due to mention that prior to introduction of the anti-corruption issue as well as the other drafts, the Minister presented books to the members of Government. The Minister explained in his Facebook page that he did it on the occasion of the World Book Day.
