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Lragir, Armenia
Dec 5 2007
THE WATERS OF THE FATHERLAND
Bruce Tusker, a British engineer, is knocking in vain at the doors of
the leaderships of Armenia and the World Bank. He said there was
misuse in the World Bank loan project worth 30 million dollars for
the improvement of water supply in Yerevan. Certainly, nobody listens
to him in the government of Armenia and the World Bank. Tusker says
the ex-country director of the World Bank Roger Robinson was also
involved in misuse. He overlooked certain circumstances which
breached the rules of the World Bank and risked corruption.
It seems that the World Bank leadership to which Tusker voiced
concern in the form of documents should be interested in revealing it
as soon as possible to dispel doubts that any WB official may be
involved in corruption in any country or make the official
responsible immediately to show that the World Bank does not tolerate
such officials. However, a few days ago Tusker stated in Yerevan the
World Bank does not seem to be interested in investigating and
revealing the truth.
The behavior of the World Bank is quite normal. This structure needs
no scandals because the purpose of the bank is quite difference. It
is a geopolitical instrument, which solves political issues through
financial and economic levers. Consequently, a few millions are not
worth for the bank to become involved in a scandal, accuse even the
bank's ex-officials of misuse, because it is unnecessary damage to
the bank's reputation. If the investigation and the revelation of the
truth were part of the aims of the bank, it would be another issue.
In other words, if the political aims which are fulfilled in
different countries of the world through the World Bank include some
revelation of corruption in those countries. Therefore, it should not
be ruled out that the issue raised by Tusker may be forgotten but may
also wake up at some moment and turn a serious story with a number of
revelations.
In this context, the stance of the Armenian government and most of
all the office of prosecutor general is amazing. The procuracy should
have already invited Tusker for a few times to find out what
corruption risks he is talking about. After all, it concerns Armenia,
and Armenia is known to wage a ruthless war against corruption.
Meanwhile, the prime minister only noted ironically on behalf of
official Yerevan that `the opinion of the British engineer is
important to us'.
Meanwhile, the problem is not only the British engineer but also the
Armenian politician as the Armenian presidential candidate Vahan
Hovanisyan can be referred to. A few years ago he led the ad-hoc
committee which monitored spending of foreign grants and loans and
observed doubtful and worrying facts about the 30 million-worth water
supply project. However, the internal political agreement smoothed
everything, and in 2003 the ARF Dashnaktsutyun got a place in the
ruling coalition. Meanwhile, the state of water supply did not
improve, only the Italians in charge of improving were replaced by
the French who borrow money from the French government not the World
Bank. Although first they collected it from the citizens of Yerevan,
raising the bills in advance, allegedly for improving water supply.
However, it turned out that it is not enough, and now they are likely
to borrow money from the French government.
JAMES HAKOBYAN
Dec 5 2007
THE WATERS OF THE FATHERLAND
Bruce Tusker, a British engineer, is knocking in vain at the doors of
the leaderships of Armenia and the World Bank. He said there was
misuse in the World Bank loan project worth 30 million dollars for
the improvement of water supply in Yerevan. Certainly, nobody listens
to him in the government of Armenia and the World Bank. Tusker says
the ex-country director of the World Bank Roger Robinson was also
involved in misuse. He overlooked certain circumstances which
breached the rules of the World Bank and risked corruption.
It seems that the World Bank leadership to which Tusker voiced
concern in the form of documents should be interested in revealing it
as soon as possible to dispel doubts that any WB official may be
involved in corruption in any country or make the official
responsible immediately to show that the World Bank does not tolerate
such officials. However, a few days ago Tusker stated in Yerevan the
World Bank does not seem to be interested in investigating and
revealing the truth.
The behavior of the World Bank is quite normal. This structure needs
no scandals because the purpose of the bank is quite difference. It
is a geopolitical instrument, which solves political issues through
financial and economic levers. Consequently, a few millions are not
worth for the bank to become involved in a scandal, accuse even the
bank's ex-officials of misuse, because it is unnecessary damage to
the bank's reputation. If the investigation and the revelation of the
truth were part of the aims of the bank, it would be another issue.
In other words, if the political aims which are fulfilled in
different countries of the world through the World Bank include some
revelation of corruption in those countries. Therefore, it should not
be ruled out that the issue raised by Tusker may be forgotten but may
also wake up at some moment and turn a serious story with a number of
revelations.
In this context, the stance of the Armenian government and most of
all the office of prosecutor general is amazing. The procuracy should
have already invited Tusker for a few times to find out what
corruption risks he is talking about. After all, it concerns Armenia,
and Armenia is known to wage a ruthless war against corruption.
Meanwhile, the prime minister only noted ironically on behalf of
official Yerevan that `the opinion of the British engineer is
important to us'.
Meanwhile, the problem is not only the British engineer but also the
Armenian politician as the Armenian presidential candidate Vahan
Hovanisyan can be referred to. A few years ago he led the ad-hoc
committee which monitored spending of foreign grants and loans and
observed doubtful and worrying facts about the 30 million-worth water
supply project. However, the internal political agreement smoothed
everything, and in 2003 the ARF Dashnaktsutyun got a place in the
ruling coalition. Meanwhile, the state of water supply did not
improve, only the Italians in charge of improving were replaced by
the French who borrow money from the French government not the World
Bank. Although first they collected it from the citizens of Yerevan,
raising the bills in advance, allegedly for improving water supply.
However, it turned out that it is not enough, and now they are likely
to borrow money from the French government.
JAMES HAKOBYAN