Piotr Switalski: European Union is ready to keep supporting Armenia in corruption struggle issues
ArmInfo. European Union is ready to continue supporting Armenia in respect to corruption struggle, Piotr Switalski, the EU Delegation to Armenia Head, stated at the opening ceremony of "Stop the Flow of Corruption".
He noted, that EU has already funded Armenia with EUR 15 mln for cooruption struggle, and it is ready to render more. To his opinion, the actual Government of Armenia, headed by Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan, sees the need to struggle against corruption. He said that the year of 2017 was announced the Year of Corruption Struggle, and that he is sure that this year will be the year of breakthrough and will open new opportunities.
Switalski mentioned also that the Government came out with certain regulatory initiatives, which could improve the efficiency of the corruption struggle. Particularly, he noted the adoption of the 'Law on Illegal Enrichment of Officials", the expanding of Officials Ethics Commission responsibilities, as well as the intention of the Government to set an independent anti corruption entity.
The Diplomat also considers necessary to voice the problem on the run to the elections, because the electoral bribes practice cancellation has an important meaning for Armenia. HE stated his confidence that the corruption struggle in Armenia will lead to the consolidation of the nation - the Government, the Opposition, civil society members, all active nationals should join this movement.
To remind, in the global rating of "2016 Corruption acceptance index", implemented by the Transparency International Armenia took the 113 position among 176 countries, dropping down for 18 positions. Among the CIS countries Armenia is left behind by such countrie like Lithuania (38 position), Georgia and Latvia (44 osition), Belarus (79 position). At that, Armenia anticipated Azerbaijan and Mo0ldova (123 position), Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine (131 place) Tajikistan (151), Tulmenistan (154) and Uzbekistan (156).