ArmInfo. "We regard the assessments of the US Ambassador to Armenia not as a sharp criticism, but as a proposal of a colleague or as a healthy criticism." Vice Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Edward Sharmazanov told reporters on March 7, referring to the statements of the US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills that corruption does not allow American investors to invest in Armenia.
Sharmazanov noted that anti-corruption measures and democratic reforms are in the focus of attention of the Armenian authorities: "We are doing everything possible to implement legislative reforms in the field of fighting corruption, they are not over yet, and we will continue the anti-corruption struggle taking into account the experience of Western democracies. The RA has never been told that there are no negative phenomena in Armenia, such as corruption, monopoly, but we must realize whether we are going in the right direction, "Sharmazanov said. The Vice-Speaker also expressed his hope that within the framework of legislative initiatives mechanisms will be introduced that will allow to more effectively deal with shortcomings. "Any country has corruption in the US, Russia and Australia, but no one is interested in eradicating these negative phenomena in Armenia, rather than the authorities." We will listen carefully to the constructive proposals of all our foreign partners and, if necessary, we will begin implementing reforms in the new order ", Eduard Sharmazanov stressed. Earlier, in an interview with the Zhamanak newspaper, the US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills expressed his concern over such manifestations of corruption that create an atmosphere of injustice. "These are such manifestations when people who have influential political and economic ties use it for their own good, which creates an atmosphere of injustice, sets unequal conditions for competition, I think that such manifestations of corruption and abuse by the authorities are the main challenges for Armenia and the biggest obstacle to its development and attracting investments, "the Ambassador said.
READ ALL COMMENTS