ARMENIAN PREMIER, EUROPEAN BODY CHIEF DISCUSS FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION

Arminfo
28 Nov 05

Yerevan, 28 November: Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan today received the chairman of the GRECO (Group of States against Corruption), Drago Kos, and the head of the OSCE office in Yerevan, Vladimir Pryakhin.

Drago Kos is attending an international conference entitled "Legal instruments on national and international anti-corruption activities" in Yerevan on 29 November, Arminfo learnt from the governmental press service. The conference is organized by the OSCE Yerevan office jointly with the Armenian commission for monitoring the implementation of anti-corruption strategy.

Armenia has been a member of the GRECO since January 2004 and fulfilled all the conditions of the organization, the Armenian prime minister said. In particular, the Armenian parliament ratified the European conventions on criminal and civil liabilities within the framework of the anti-corruption responsibilities. The government submitted the UN convention on fighting corruption for the ratification now.

The head of the GRECO congratulated Andranik Markaryan on the conduct of the constitutional referendum. Kos said that the reformed constitution will contribute to the country's further democratization and meeting international standards. He noted that fighting corruption is in the focus of attention of the Armenian government and Armenia is carrying out an intensive work in the GRECO since its membership.

He said that at the beginning of 2006, Armenia's anti-corruption activities will be assessed at a plenary session of the GRECO after which the organization will come up with its proposals in this sphere. Drago Kos also spoke about the preparation of the GRECO member states for the third stage of the monitoring which will deal with problems of political corruption.

The prime minister expressed the hope that the conference will have a positive impact on promoting the efficiency of the anti-corruption fight in Armenia.