VAZGEN  MANUKYAN

On 29 April 2016, the Public Council held a plenary sitting in the Public Council, the main issue on the agenda whereof related to the consideration of the Republic of Armenia Anti-Corruption Strategy Implementation Action Plan for 2015-2018.

In the Action plan for 2015-18 it is stipulated that the Public Council should regularly consider the implementation process of the Anti-Corruption Strategy of the Government of the Republic of Armenia contributing to the prevention of corruption, raising public awareness of the fight against corruption, making the process more simple and transparent.

Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Suren Krmoyan, Executive Director of "Transparency International Anti-corruption Center" NGO Varuzhan Hoktanyan, President of the "Armenian Young Lawyers Association" NGO Karen Zadoyan and Board member of the Organisation Marat Atovmyan were present at the considaration.

It was noted that the Public Council may become an effective platform for combining efforts of state and non-governmental sectors in the fight against corruption.

The Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia — in the manner provided for by the Republic of Armenia Anti-Corruption Strategy Implementation Action Plan for 2015-2018 — presented the Anti-Corruption Strategy and its Implementation Action Plan, the main objective of the Strategy, the main measures for the fight against corruption, the need for establishing a transparent and accountable governance system, the importance of establishing a participatory governance system and co-operation with the civil society and other issues.

Indicating the provision provided for by the Action Plan, Suren Krmoyan once again attached importance to the need for organising broad public consultations in the Public Council once a quarter, where the representative of the corresponding state institution will present a quarterly overview of the activities of the Anti-Corruption Council, after which representatives of civil society institutions will raise questions and make proposals concerning the fight against corruption, which will also be presented to the Anti-Corruption Council.

Member of the Public Council, Chairperson of the Commission on State and Legal Affairs of the Public Council Grigor Badiryan emphasised that the process would be more effective and tangible, if all non-governmental organisations with great experience and a reputation in this field co-operated in this regard.

Representatives of non-governmental organisations talked about identification of corruption, the main directions of their activities towards the fight against it, submitting a number of proposals and programmes, legislative initiatives that would also be considered in the Public Council later. At the same time, the Executive Director of "Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center" NGO informed that they did not find it appropriate to participate in the activities of the Anti-Corruption Council since their activities would be more effective without being involved in another institution.

The members of the Public Council attached importance to the participation of the Public Council in the fight against corruption noting that issues concerning corrupt practices have been considered in the Council starting from the day of its establishment. The members of the Public Council also attached importance to the need for holding regular considerations on the prevention of corruption. Issues relating to the activities of the Anti-Corruption Council, their effectiveness and the current situation of the fight against corruption in general were raised, considering at the same time the issue of expediency of participation of the Public Council in the activities of that Council. As a result of the consideration a number of proposals were put forward.

Summarising the sitting, Vazgen Manukyan extended his thanks to the representatives of the NGOs and the Government of the Republic of Armenia for participation, emphasising once again that the issue of the fight against corruption has been on the agenda of the Public Council starting from the day of its establishment. The Chairperson of the Public Council also informed that the format of participation of the Public Council in the activities of the Anti-Corruption Council would be considered in the near future, taking into account also the position of non-governmental organisations operating in that field.