Tuesday, August 25 2020 15:54

ArmInfo. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan today met with the Corruption Prevention Commission's members, led by Haykuhi Harutyunyan, the press service of the prime minister informs. Minister of Justice Rustam Badasyan was in attendance.

Greeting the members of the commission, the Prime Minister said:   "Dear colleagues, I am pleased to meet you today. Less than a year  ago a commission for prevention of corruption was formed in Armenia,  which is of conceptual importance to our country, since we all know  that the program of the Armenian government enshrines the vision of a  corruption-free society.

Today the fight against corruption is central on Armenia's domestic  agenda, but strategically we should strive to develop clear-cut  mechanisms to prevent corruption, bearing in mind that corruption  must either be eradicated, or it should be minimized in Armenia, so  that it never again reappears on our public agenda.  Of course, we  need effective mechanisms to ensure that no corruption case goes  undisclosed in our country.  The purpose of our meeting is to discuss  and understand how well the commission is doing and which way the  government can assist the commission in its proceedings, considering  that the government has specific commitments in terms of ensuring  your normal activities. I hope we will be able to meet the goals  specified in our anticorruption strategy within the shortest  deadlines. In fact, this strategic paper is the manifest of our joint  action. Today, we will see where we have arrived in terms of  implementing the strategy, which affects the Commission for  Prevention of Corruption."

Thankful for the reception, Haykuhi Harutyunyan first introduced  commission members Lilit Aleksanyan, Aramayis Pashinyan, Narek  Hambardzumyan and gave details of their individual functions. She  noted that the commission has been fully operational for more than 8  months ever since its formation. As a state institution, the  commission has been involved in the system of civil service; new  working standards and internal regulations have been developed.

A system of declaration of interests has been introduced. The  system's terms of reference were streamlined mediating artificial  intelligence-supported solutions. It will allow the commission to  automatically collect, analyze data and minimize the impact of human  factors, which in turn will help improve the commission's overall  performance. Recommendations have been formulated with a view to  establishing institutional mechanisms for confiscation of ill-earned  assets and property, which will be submitted to the Ministry of  Justice.

Ethics-related inspections have been carried out within the  judiciary. This process shall be continued. The commission will come  up with new proposals concerning the expansion of the ethics system  and its application in the public administration system.  Recommendations are being drafted on legislative amendments.

Views were exchanged on the government's anticorruption agenda. The  Prime Minister stressed the need to build up an institutional  framework for the aforesaid declaration system. He called for closer  cooperation between the commission and the law enforcement system,  the use of electronic systems, legislative reforms and other key  issues. Several practicalities related to the prevention of  corruption, detection of corruption crimes, anticorruption education  and raising the public's awareness were discussed during the meeting.

"No one questions the government's political will to succeed in the  fight against corruption and prevent corruption. Therefore, we must  set the highest benchmark and continue our efforts in this  direction," Nikol Pashinyan concluded.