Anti-corruption public reception Centre opens in Stepanavan with OSCE help

STEPANAVAN, Armenia, 18 May 2007 - Legal, procedural and practical consultations for citizens on possible corruption cases will be provided by a new public reception Centre that opened in Stepanavan, Armenia's Lori province, with OSCE support.

The Centre will be operated by the regional division of the NGO Soldiers' Mothers in co-operation with the anti-corruption alliance of NGOs. It will advise the public on cases relating to the army, public health, education, traffic police, public services and consumers' rights in order to decrease possible corruption practices.

The Centre in Stepanavan is another step towards building a network of centres in other regions of Armenia. A similar one has been working in Yerevan since April this year, and another one will open this month in Martuni, Gegharkunik province.

"The OSCE places great importance on capacity-building at the local level and improving access to information for the citizens and the civil society as a way to fight corruption. The Centre in Stepanavan will raise the citizens' awareness about legislation and anti-corruption practices," said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, the Head of the OSCE Office, who took part in a meeting with Stepanavan community residents together with Sarkis Karakeshishyan, the Mayor of city.

Silva Martirosyan, the Co-ordinator of the Centre, added: "The Centre has already started receiving inquiries and calls not only from Stepanavan but from other communities in the Lori region. The project is especially important for a remote community like Stepanavan because people here do not always know how they can protect their rights."

The Centre will work in close co-operation with the Centre in Yerevan and other regional centres to be established later in the year. A hotline (0-256-22084) will be available for people to register complaints and receive necessary information by phone.