YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–The "Anti-corruption struggle and future of the Armenian statehood" conference held by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Executive Council of Armenia on Tuesday–was devoted to the issues connected with corruption–as a phenomenon hampering the process of building the Armenian statehood.
Leader of the ARF Parliamentary faction Avghan Vardanian pointed out that corruption existed in the Soviet period and continued during the years of independence when there were favorable conditions for it. "For our party–corruption is a problem of national security," Vardanian stated.
According to the ARF representative deputy Armen Rustamian–both the authorities and the public at large must struggle against terrorism. If this phenomenon is not overcome it will ruin the best programs. Rustamian emphasized that the volumes of corruption are so large in Armenia that it can be viewed as an organized system. "The state must have a corresponding immune system and necessary medicines against corruption," he said stressing the importance of creating an anti-corruption agency.
Member of the ARF Bureau–Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Commission on the Defense–National Security and Interior Affairs Vahan Hovanessian pointed out the importance of creating an atmosphere of intolerance against corruption–so the perpetrators realize that the risk is great in such conditions. According to Hovhannissian–considering the fact that Armenia has no anti-corruption agency at the moment–it would be advisable to establish a public oversight commission over the activities of such organizations like those monitoring the taxation and customs systems. He also emphasized the role of the international organizations in exercising control over the activities of many structures.
The participants in the conference harshly criticized the position of a number of authorities–including deputies involved in the corrupt actions.