YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)-National Assembly deputy David Shahnazarian–in his speech made at a special parliament session devoted to establishment of a commission on prevention of abuse–explained–"It is obvious that corruption and bribery are widely spread in Armenia. I had a chance to say more than a year ago that corruption and bribery would become a natural process."
As for the proposal by the Republic faction on establishment of a commission on prevention of abuse–said Shahnazarian–it is very surprising that this proposal was made by a faction which enjoys the overwhelming majority (over 60 percent) in the parliament.
"In other words–according to the current legislation–this faction forms the government–it casts a vote of confidence or non-confidence.
"If that proposal was made by a small faction or group–it would be welcomed. The proposal to establish a commission is just a disguise of the problem and a bad imitation of a struggle against corruption and bribery. We cannot but agree with deputy Jemma Ananyan who called this project as ridiculous. It should be realized that to eradicate corruption and bribery is impossible. All of us understand it. But a government which does not strive to do it is doomed," explained Shanazarian.
"In case corruption progresses there appear laws that are favorable for clans and groups. We have such examples in the National Assembly. In my mind–a classical example of this fact is the law ?on banking secret’. Such proposals are numerous. We have a situation today when there is an impression that speaking against this commission we are speaking against prevention of corruption and bribery. No–it is not so. It is not clear why a faction that enjoys the overwhelming majority at the parliament does not invite government representatives today. We do not know the stance of the Prosecutor General–Government and law enforcement agencies. I–again–repeat that all this can be viewed as a bad attempt to fight corruption and bribery via establishment of a commission only," said the deputy.
He called on to vote against. "I am sure that we will not vote against prevention of corruption and bribery–but against such a veiling of that struggle," he concluded.