Richard Mills: Four-Day War in April highlighted the corrosive effect  corruption can have on national security of Armenia

ArmInfo. Four-Day War in April highlighted the corrosive effect corruption can have on national security of Armenia, said US Ambassador in Armenia Richard Mills in  his speech in American Chamber of Commerce in Armenia in Yerevan on  February 1.

The Ambassador recalled that 15 months ago he spoke about  intersection between corruption and national security. "Many people  were surprised, many were dismissive. Certainly the public discourse  during and after the Four-Day War in April highlighted the corrosive  effect corruption can have on national security and brought the issue  into the public spotlight", said Richard Mills.

During the last 15 months it has become clear to the US Ambassador  that the lack of a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh  conflict diverts precious resources - both Armenian and those  provided from Armenia's international and Diaspora friends do not  serve its purpose. "The lack of a resolution to Nagorno-Karabakh  fuels corruption because it keeps Armenia's borders closed and, when  borders are closed, it is easier for powerful business people and  others to control economic markets and close off competition", said  the diplomat. 

The US Ambassador recalled that in his first speech he set 4  priorities in the work of US Embassy in Armenia, including fight  against corruption jointly with Armenian partners. According to him,  one area where significant progress has been registered is Armenia  joining the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, or EITI.  Nevertheless, for better results it is necessary for the government  of Armenia to show political will.  EITI membership requires that the  government, civil society, and the mining industry come together to  foster greater transparency and the clean, responsible, and  sustainable development of mining.

The Government, with USAID support, has worked hard on its candidacy  package, forming a multi-stakeholder working group with  representatives from extractive companies, civil society, and  international partners, and formally submitting its membership  application to the Board of the EITI in December 2016.  Joining EITI  is not an end in itself, but it is a significant commitment to  increased transparency and to uphold international standards in the  all-important mining sector. The government must strengthen and  empower public institutions at all levels and send a clear message  from on high that corruption will not be tolerated and that no one is  above the law.  Absent this message, no truly transformative change  can occur, the Ambassador thinks. 

The US Embassy is encouraged with Armenian new government's readiness  to fight against corruption and has concrete proposals on this issue.  First of all, the government should strengthen the independent role  and responsibilities of the Ethics Commission on High Ranking  Officials.  The Ambassador applauded the government's recent step in  this direction. Significant changes have been made to the  Administrative Violations Code and Criminal Code, providing for  fines, criminal sentences, and limitations on holding government  positions for 3 years for individuals who submit false income  declarations.  But more needs to be done.  "One fix would be for the  Government to make clear that the launching of an investigation into  possible corrupt activities by a government official does not require  specific evidence of an actual bribe paid or a favor given, but could  be triggered by a prosecutor's assessment that the assets declared by  a government official are so great as to trigger reasonable grounds  of suspicion", the Ambassador noted. 

The Ambassador also suggests that the government consider  establishing a fully independent anti- corruption body with full  investigative and prosecutorial authority. "This seems a propitious  time for the government to consider this suggestion, as we understand  the Prime Minister is currently deciding how to restructure the  existing Anti-Corruption Council and formalize the connections and  lines of authority between the Anti-Corruption Council and other  bodies with anti-corruption", he said.