OnApril 7 the conference on the theme “The Role of Cooperation between the National Assembly – Civil Society in the Fight Against Corruption” was continued. The discussions simultaneously were conducted in three working groups.

The first group, which was coordinating Alex Sardar, the Head of the organization of Counterpart International, discussed key problems of the National Assembly – civil society cooperation in the fight against corruption. Representatives of various NGOs presented their approaches related to the activization of the civil society, effective cooperation mechanisms with the legislative body. There were proposals to create NGOs monitoring institutes, deepen the role and weight of NGOs, enjoy already defined, but yet left on paper their rights, strengthen the realization of social interest, first of all, inside the NGOs, then make it also available for the society, develop mechanisms and make the officials work with NGOs. Other problems related to awareness, participation and cooperation were also discussed.

The second group, which was coordinating Head of Legislative Analysis and Development Department of the National Assembly Ashot Khachatryan, turned to the role and problems of monitoring institutions in the fight against corruption.

The role of the Control Chamber, as external monitoring institution was highlighted in reducing corruption promoting factors and in revealing and preventing corruption phenomena, proposed to strengthen the monitoring of budget revenues collection, execution of budget expenses towards the effectiveness of the state property management. It was also proposed to strengthen the role of monitoring social institutions and consolidate their cooperation with Mass Media and NGOs.

The third group, which was coordinating Boris Navasardyan, Head of Yerevan Press Club, discussed the problems related to the role of Media in the fight against corruption. The problems related to the freedom and independence of the press in the RA were touched upon, it was noted that the degree of corruption and the problems of the press freedom are interconnected: on the one hand, freedom of Press can help to eradicate corruption, and on the other hand, corruption can affect on the freedom of press. The goal of press should be the protection of interests of society and reveal the violation cases. The legislative guarantees of the anti-corruption activity of Media was also discussed, that is the independence of Mass Media from the state and local self-government bodies, journalists’ legal protection and security guarantees, and the problems, related to the proper implementation of journalists’ rights for getting information of public importance. It was noted that the Prosecutor's Office is obliged to respond to the investigations and publications on corruption, which should become the basis to institute relevant proceedings. It was proposed to establish a committee in the National Assembly to investigate the cases of the journalists, who have been subjected to violence. The legislative protection of mass media was highlighted.

The work of conference proceeded in unified session at during the second half of the day. The coordinators of three groups presented the results of group discussions.

Alex Sardar, the coordinator of the first group, informed that their group highlights the active provision of information by the National Assembly to civil society, political will of legislative body and civil society in overcoming corruption effectively, involvement of more donors in activities, the provision of legal mandate to the staff of NA for being accountable to civil society, organization of conferences on the fight against corruption with the participation of the representatives of the NA and NGOs, coordination of anti-corruption actions and formation of working group with the participation of the NA deputies, staff, civil society and mass media, which should promote participation of the public in legislative processes.

Ashot Khachatryan presented the proposals of the second group. They are as follows: elaborate relevant mechanisms for delivering public opinion to monitoring institutions and studying applications, addressed to them; give guarantees of social protection to the employees of public monitoring institutions; monitoring standards acting in our country bring in compliance with international standards; the monitoring body to be given competence of expert activities related to the grant project, allocated to the state; separate internal and external audits; strengthen the activities of public monitoring institutions and regulate the legislative contradictions which are related especially to revisions.

Boris Navasardyan’s proposals are as follows: establish public experimental council adjunct to the NA to expert laws related to mass media, envisage TV program series on investigation of corruption phenomena, create conditions for legal protection of media; improve information freedom revising and correcting contradictions in the mass media related laws; assist in organizing trainings for the journalists who are engaged in corruption themes; secure transparency of monitoring of budget allocations and implementation of intended expenses; public monitoring of the bodies, which regulate activities of broadcasting.

Vladimir Pryakhin, OSCE Ambassador to Armenia, welcoming the guests, noted that the participation of the representatives of legislative, executive bodies, NGOs and mass media testifies that this was a new qualitative step in fight against anti-corruption manifestations. He ensured that OSCE Yerevan office is ready within its authorities and possibilities to assist to implement all the proposals sounded during the conference. Mr. Pryakhin noted that the main role of the office is the cooperation with civil society. The Ambassador highlighted the necessity to increase the role of civil society and NGOs, mass media, fourth power, considering necessary the guarantees of legal protection and security of mass media.He also highlighted the execution of anti-corruption strategic paper adopted in 2003. Wrapping up his speech, Vladimir Pryakhin reasoned that this conference once more emphasized the role of the society and parliament in anti-corruption fight.

In his final speech the Speaker of the NA Arthur Baghdasaryan, highlighting the holding of two-day international conference, noted that it was the first time that the necessity of strengthening the anti-corruption fight discussed in the National Assembly with the participation of the representatives of social society institutions, NGOs, mass media. “We declare that this fight in Armenia is of political necessity, we must show political will and resolution, take concrete steps to increase the people’s faith that we as a State proclaim will and resolve in the fight against corruption.”Mr. Baghdasaryan highlighted the joint statement, adopted during the conference, according to which the National Assembly, NGOs, mass media will be decisive to keep the issues of the fight against corruption at the center of attention and to take steps for their solution. The NA Speaker considers that the steps against corruption have been taken. The research of the Control Chamber were sent to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office, criminal proceedings have been brought against but as he said the volume of corruption is greater than the fight against it. “It is impossible to fight against corruption just speaking about it we need practical steps. It is necessary that NGOs and mass media show civil intolerance towards corruption phenomena. It is our country, we must fight together and we’ll gain good results,” assured Arthur Baghdasaryan. He considered Electoral Code put into circulation by all political forces in Armenia within 15 years, the establishment of GOPAC Armenian National Chapter in the parliament, which means integration in international parliamentary movement as а positive step. “It is necessary to show intolerance against corruption and tolerance in the interactions among political forces,” reasoned Mr. Baghdasaryan. The NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan welcomed the readiness of international organizations to continue this initiative.The Parliament Speaker, thanking the guests for their participation in the works of the conference, called on all concerned forces to fight together for setting up open and democratic Armenia.

Head of Legislative Analysis and Development Department of the National Assembly Ashot Khachatryan presented the final statement of the international anti-corruption conference “The Role of Cooperation between the National Assembly – Civil Society in the Fight Against Corruption.”

MP Mher Shahgeldyan read the statement of the Armenian National Chapter of “The Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption.”

STATEMENT OF THE ARMENIAN NATIONAL CHAPTER OF THE GLOBAL ORGANIZATION OF PARLIAMENTARIANS AGAINST CORRUPTION

On the way of the democracy building the fight against corruption and the overcoming of this public disease is the most important goal for the formation of liberal economy, civil society and legal state.

For the transitional societies the globalized world gives opportunity to cooperate and join the international organizations to strengthen and multiply their capabilities and opportunities, fight against such harmful phenomena, as corruption, organized crime, drug trade, man-caused and natural disasters, etc.

“The Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption” in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, which unites and coordinates the efforts of the parliamentarians of dozens of countries in the fight against corruption, the establishment of the Armenian National Chapter, is the most important fact. And the result is the current International Anti-corruption Conference. It means the Armenian parliamentarians’ membership to the International Parliamentary Anti-corruption Movement.

Members of the Armenian National Chapter are representatives of all political forces represented in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia: RPA members Gagik Melikyan, Ararat Malkhasyan, OEK members Mher Shahgeldyan, People’s Deputy member Manvel Ghazaryan, ARF member Hrayr Karapetyan, Ardarutiun bloc members Viktor Dallakyan, Arshak Sadoyan, Azgayin Miabanutiun/National member Aleksan Karapetyan, ULP member Mnatsakan Petrosyan. The above mentioned gives opportunity to form general political will and achieve agreement to create of anti-corruption mechanisms in our country and develop them in the spheres, which are under the powers of the parliament.

It will also give opportunity to strengthen and develop the Armenian parliamentarism, which is the most basis of forming democracy in Armenia.

The Role of RA National Assembly-Civil Society Cooperation in the Fight Against Corruption

Final Statement of the International Anti-Corruption Conference

April 7, 2006

On April 6-7, on the initiative of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia an international conference on the theme “The Role of RA National Assembly- Civil Society Cooperation in the Fight Against Corruption” with the participation of the deputies, parliamentarians of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, representatives of the Government, foreign diplomatic representations, civil society and mass media, international organizations, public and external monitoring bodies. Based on the results of the conference the participants made the following statement.

“The participants of the conference state once again that the corruption is an essentially hindering circumstance for the sustainable development and deepening of democratic reforms of Armenia. At the same time we are confident that the National Assembly, civil society and the mass media form the triangle, between which the cooperation will greatly promote the effective corruption fighting.

We, the participants of the conference, express our readiness to continue the further cooperation in the direction of the implementation of the proposals’ packages elaborated as a result of discussions held at the plenary sessions and working groups of the conference and we hope that this initiative started in the fight against corruption between the National Assembly and wide-scale civil society will create serious opportunities in order to record essential results in the fight against that phenomenon.

We, the participants of the conference, welcome the initiative of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia and the establishment of the Armenian National Chapter of the “Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption” and express our readiness for the further cooperation with that Chapter, considering it as a window of additional opportunities and an important step in fight against corruption for the rise of the role of the parliamentarians and civil society.

We also welcome the readiness of the international organizations in assisting to initiate relevant programmes and call to life the proposals’ packages of the further actions elaborated in the result of the conference.”

The works of the conference were wrapped with the press conference.