EU not to provide Armenia with 15 mln EUR until specific steps are taken to combat corruption, Head of EU Delegation says

The EU has allocated 15 mln EUR to help Armenia combat corruption, however, it will not provide the amount to the Government unless it sees specific steps to that end, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Switalski said in Yerevan on May 13.    
He said that the EU supports all efforts aimed at combating corruption. However, he added that the EU needs specific results and it hopes that the anti-corruption fight will get a fresh impetus and will give a tangible progress. The diplomat noted that it is important to set up an independent investigation body, which will fix the measures taken.  
Ambassador Switalski is convinced that the anti-corruption fight in Armenia should be nationwide. He thinks that the problem should consolidate the Government, political forces, and the civil society. Judging by the latest developments, the authorities realize that the anti-corruption fight should become a priority for Armenia, he said, noting that the President's speech in February and the discontent statement of the Prime Minister demonstrate that the anti-corruption fight is of strategic importance to the country. 
The diplomat said that the latest developments, including the cases of corruption in the defense sector, show that this is a matter of national security. He stressed that corruption does not make Armenia stronger and it is a matter of not only effective political governance or fair distribution of national wealth. It is necessary to understand that it is a matter of national security, he added. 
Earlier, in an interview with RLE/RL Amrenian Service, U.S.  Ambassador Richard Mills said " I recognize that corruption is still a serious issue in Armenia...I'm really committed to growing the commercial ties, the investment ties between Armenia and the United States. I think now is the time to focus on that. But to attract U.S.  investment, investors need to know they're entering a climate where everyone is treated the same, where there's no unfair competition, where government services are equally available to everyone. And so if we don't see the Corruption council address those things I think that will hurt the opportunities for investment here." According to the ambassador, he is willing to work with any institution of the Armenian government that is committed to fighting corruption. "And so we will work with this Council. But as I've said, we expect to see actions, words aren't enough and we will constantly evaluate our cooperation with the Council and if over time we don't see the kind of commitment, the kind of actions that the Prime Minister and the Council itself says they want to take, then we will reevaluate our relationship with the council," Richard Mills said.
On May 12, Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan spoke of the fight against corruption, obliging the law- enforcement departments engaged in the field to make regular reports on the process. In case of no progress, the human resources policy will be revised. He said the persons holding state positions and their relatives must not be allowed to participate in the state procurement and the program must be implemented on the government funds. He said all these measures are impossible unless there is sustainable and long-term economic growth that will allow creating new jobs and reducing social tension. The prime minister admitted that the government was not consistent enough in fighting monopolies. On February 12, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan also said that it is time to change a lot of things.