July 2, 2008

Forum Held to Discuss Armenia´s Anti-Corruption Obligations

Yerevan, Armenia – Representatives of civil society organizations, state agencies, international organizations, the private sector, and the media discussed Armenia´s international obligations to fight corruption during Armenia´s first Anti-Corruption Forum held today in the Armenia Marriott Hotel in Yerevan.

The forum, organized by the USAID Mobilizing Action Against Corruption Activity (MAAC), in cooperation with UNDP, served as an arena for discussions between interested parties and the Anti-Corruption Strategy Monitoring Commission on the current state of international obligations, especially as they relate to the new Anti-Corruption Strategy being developed by the Government.

Among the topics discussed in this first of a series of forums planned on corruption-related matters that MAAC will organize in Yerevan and the regions were Armenia´s obligations within the framework of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, the OECD Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan), and the Council of Europe Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO). Also discussed was the role of the new Anti-Corruption Strategy in assuring compliance with these obligations.

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Tigran Sargsyan; the U.S. Embassy Chargé d´Affaires, Joseph Pennington; the UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia, Consuelo Vidal; the Head of OSCE Yerevan Office, Sergey Kapinos; and the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Strategy Monitoring Commission and Assistant to the President of Armenia, Gevorg Mheryan, delivered opening remarks.

In his opening remarks, U.S. Embassy Chargé d´Affaires stated: "The U.S. Government recognizes the important steps the Armenian Government has already taken by becoming signature to several key international obligations. Today´s forum provides an important arena for government, the private sector, and civil society to come together in a joint fight against corruption."

Chargé d´Affaires Joseph Pennington delivers opening remarks at the Anti-Corruption Forum