Anti-corruption conference co-organized by OSCE begins in Armenia

YEREVAN, 6 April 2006 - Strengthening the co-operation between the Armenia's National Assembly, civil society and the media in the fight against corruption is the focus of a two-day international conference co-organized by the OSCE, which started today in Yerevan.

"Only united efforts can bring substantial results in the fight against corruption," said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. "This is why the OSCE strongly supports the co-operation between national and international actors in this field. In particular the roles of Parliament, civil society and the media are crucial in this aspect, as they raise the public's awareness for the problem and encourage its involvement."

Arthur Baghdasaryan, Speaker of the National Assembly, stressed Armenia's interest in the effective combat of corruption: "This is a political necessity for Armenia. The success in this fight will determine the progress of democracy," he said.

The conference brings together some 130 participants from the National Assembly, civil society, media, public oversight bodies, as well as international organizations and foreign experts from the United States, Russian Federation, Poland and Romania to share experiences and exchange views on effective anti-corruption co-operation mechanisms.

The event is organized by the OSCE Office, the Armenian National Assembly, the Eurasia Foundation Representation Office in Armenia and the United Nations Development Programme.

The outcome of the discussions will be presented at a press conference tomorrow, 7 April, at 16:30 in the National Assembly's Golden Hall. A conference report containing the conclusions will also be published and distributed to the interested public.

Co-operation with the National Assembly and integration of Armenia's civil society in the decision-making process is one of the recommendations adopted at the International Anti-Corruption Conference organized with support of the OSCE Office last November.

The Office has assisted Armenia in the fight against corruption since 2000, mainly by co-ordinating activities of the international working group and strengthening civil society. Currently, the Office supports the NGO Anti-Corruption Coalition in activities to address awareness-raising in education and health sectors, legal assistance to drivers, and by building bridges between the Government and the media.