The Number One Guarantee of Preventing Corruption Risks is the Political Will: Artur Sakunts

The number one guarantee of preventing corruption risks is political will. Artur Sakunts, Chairman of HCA Vanadzor,  stated this in a conversation with 1in.am, when he commented on the chart of corruption perception index released by Transparency International. 

A. Sakunts finds it normal that Armenia has given up its position in terms of corruptionperception. He believes that the spread of corruption and corruptness has increased and corresponds to the data released by Transparency International.

Referring to the areas with the highest corruption risks in the RA, he said that it is difficult to distinguish which spheres are most corrupt. However, he is convinced that the corruption risks during privatization of resources are the most disturbing.

“The violation of the principle of equality before lawin the sphere of economy, in the use of state resources, in the social sphere, and the manifestations of corruptionin the armed forces and in terms of control, in general, are widespread in society,” noted  the human rights activist. He added that the last resources of the country, minerals and lumber, as well as construction and use of budget resources are also subject tocorruption.The chairman of HCA Vanadzor is surprised that there is not a single sphere without the risk of corruption. He also expressed his concerns that there are manifestations of corruption in the spheres of justice and law enforcement.

A. Sakunts does not see any mechanisms that would provide effective guarantees for decreasing corruption. “There is notan effective mechanism of control;there arelaw enforcement bodies, who shouldcontrol and uncover the cases, and control and inspection bodies, who should manage and reduce them,” commented the human rights activist, attaching importance to the supervision of approved decisions as well.

According to A. Sakunts, a few arrests and criminal cases are a result of uncoordinated corruption, which is not a fight against corruption. He is convinced that the number one guarantee of preventing corruption risks is political will. “When government is elected through fair and free elections, it is a guarantee of political will,” concluded A. Sakunts.

Today Transparency International released its annual corruption perception index for 183 countries. According to the index, Armenia scored 2.6, and dropped by 6 points, falling from 123rd place to 129th. 

Source: www.1in.am