Only drastic anti-corruption measures can produce results – Armenian MP
In an interview with Tert.am, Gurgen Arsenyan, an MP of the Prosperous Armenia party, commented on the struggle against corruption and government reforms.
He welcomed attempts to achieve higher results with more decent means. Mr Arsenyan believes corruption is a grave crime and points out a need for drastic anti-corruption measures. Over 20,000 people have been jailed in Georgia on corruption charges so as not to derail the reforms in the country.
Mr Arsenyan, what is your opinion of Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan’s statement on struggle against corruption? A need for efficient governance and fund saving is on the agenda as well.
I think improving the government’s efficiency and achieving higher results, while saving funds is a normal process. And I think all the possible means could be used to achieve this goal. I am informed of some instructions issued by the government. Specifically, the government has planned projects and an austerity program. However, it would like to stress a need to rule out miscalculations not to hamper any government agency’s normal work.
As regards corruption, we should realize that combating corruption requires much more serious and larger-scale measures. I consider corruption a disease of our state and society – a kind of plague – which, if continues affecting our state and social life, will be most difficult to eradicate, and its aftermath will almost be inevitable.
Do you think the ruling circles can remain unaffected in a corrupt state?
The problem is that corruption in any state is the authorities’ monopoly. Public agents have the powers “for sale.” Government officials’ top priority must be ruling out this “sale of powers” by public agents. This is one of the priority tasks of our state construction. Regrettably, the fact is that, in our modern history, we have had statesmen that have put up their power for public sale and have not been actually punished for that. In some cases, they left Armenia and now continue living in other countries. But our society is now facing the aftermath of their activities. The priority task is for the ruling elite to prevent public agents putting up their powers for sale. It is clear that if powers are put up for sale, “clients” will be found, but it is our society, country, homeland and state that are most affected. This is the aftermath of corruption, and we have to combat corruption in the most serious way.
Can we say we need drastic measures to root out corruption and reform public conscience?
Corruption is actually a grave crime. And we must be able to realize that it is only by means of drastic measures that can produce results. We can see Georgia’s example. Serious struggle against corruption was announced there and, as a result, over 20,000 people were convicted for different crimes so as not to derail the reforms in the country. And we have to admit that our neighbor, Georgia, has achieved tangible results in terms of both the government system and public awareness. Struggle against corruption begins with reforming public awareness. Otherwise, corruption will turn into the most serious threat to state and society. And in many cases it can be even more dangerous than relations with hostile states you have military problems with.
Do you think Armenia’s authorities now have the will? Do you believe in positive developments?
I am sure that the measures taken in Georgia, with tangible results, can promptly be taken in Armenia. It only requires political will and resolution. Our state needs recovery programs, and each individual can think of his or her contribution to this process. Armenia’s authorities have declared their willingness to be consistent in combating corruption and they have to take concrete steps for our society to make sure of a new stage of state and social life in Armenia.