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90% of Respondents Consider Corruption Problem Or Big Problem in ROA

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  • 90% of Respondents Consider Corruption Problem Or Big Problem in ROA

    United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Armenia
    14, Petros Adamyan St., Yerevan 0010, Armenia
    Tel: +374 10 56 60 73 + 121
    Mob: +374 91 43 63 12
    Fax: +374 10 54 38 11
    E-mail: [email protected]
    URLs: http://www.undp.am

    PRESS RELEASE

    CONTACT: Aramazd Ghalamkaryan
    E-mail: [email protected]

    NINE OUT OF TEN RESPONDENTS CONSIDER CORRUPTION A PROBLEM OR A BIG
    PROBLEM IN ARMENIA

    31.01.2007

    Yerevan, Armenia

    Nine out of ten citizens consider corruption as a problem or a major
    problem in Armenia. In addition, nine out of ten respondents stressed
    that free and fair elections is one of the solutions to improve the
    anti-corruption situation in Armenia.

    These findings were presented today in Yerevan, Armenia, at the
    presentation of the "2006 Corruption Perception Survey in Armenia"
    publication.

    The survey was conducted in July-December 2006 by the Center for
    Regional Development/Transparency International Armenia (CRD/TI Armenia)
    with the support of UNDP Armenia Office, and the results were presented
    by the Chairwoman of the CRD/TI Armenia Ms. Amalya Kostanyan.

    The event brought together public figures, representatives of NGOs and
    international organizations, as well as mass media. Ms. Consuelo Vidal,
    head of UN and UNDP in Armenia, Mr. Vladimir Pryakhin, head of OSCE
    Office in Armenia, Ms. Bojana Urumova, Representative of the Council of
    Europe in Armenia, and Ms. Anna Aghadjanian, representative of the
    Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia were key speakers at the event.

    Transparency International Armenia has carried out a similar survey in
    2002, and analogous survey questionnaire was developed in 2006 to ensure
    comparison with the previous data.

    The results of the 2006 survey indicate that citizens of Armenia are
    still very much concerned about corruption. Nine out of ten respondents
    view corruption as a "problem" or a "major problem" in Armenia.
    Meanwhile, 40% of the respondents consider corruption as "crime" and 12%
    - as an "immoral behavior".

    In 2006, nearly five times more interviewees (68%) than in 2002 (14%)
    stated that corruption has always existed in Armenia. The majority of
    interviewees (64%) believe that the level of corruption has increased
    during the last three years.

    Most people both in 2002 and 2006 still think that bribery and abuse of
    public office for personal gain are the main manifestations of
    corruption. They still believe that the state authorities are those who
    mainly initiate corruption and that more corruption occurs in the high
    level of the Armenian government system.

    However, the responses concerning the most corrupt institutions
    (structures) have changed since 2002. While the prosecution system was
    mentioned again in 2006, the Prime Minister's Office and the courts that
    were mentioned in 2002 were replaced by the Prime Minister and the
    Ministers in 2006.

    As to the most corrupt sectors and services, the traffic police are
    still perceived by the public as very corrupt (68%). In addition, the
    majority of respondents selected the electoral system (74%) and the tax
    service (63%) as most corrupt, while in 2002 the military and health
    sector were given similar marks.

    Whereas the majority of the 2002 respondents thought that the main
    causes of corruption are poor law enforcement, imperfect legislation and
    inefficient control and punishment mechanisms, in 2006 an increased
    number of interviewees were inclined to see public tolerance as one of
    the major causes of corruption in Armenia.

    According to the findings of the 2006 survey, 70% of the public is not
    aware about the Anti-Corruption Strategy, 85% - about the
    Anti-Corruption Council and 91% - about its Monitoring Commission, as
    well as about Armenia's international obligations in the fight against
    corruption (84%).

    While prioritizing the solutions to improve the current situation, nine
    out of ten respondents pointed to a necessity of ensuring free and fair
    elections.

    They also referred to strengthening law enforcement (94%) and punishment
    of those involved in corruption (92%) as a key to the success of
    reducing corruption in the country.

    Both in 2002 and 2006, the majority of interviewees continue to believe
    that the President of the country could play a determining role in
    reducing corruption in Armenia. More than half of the respondents felt
    that people themselves cannot do anything.

    In 2006, 40% of the respondents said they could not justify corruption
    at all. In 2006, 50% of respondents answered that they would not take
    bribes since it is unacceptable for them, whereas in 2002 only 17% of
    the respondents were of the same opinion.

    The publication will be available on http://www.undp.am website soon.

    * * *

    For further information please contact:

    United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
    14, Petros Adamyan Street, Yerevan, 0010, Armenia.
    Tel.: (+37410) 566 073, Fax: (+37410) 543 811.
    E-mail: [email protected];
    Website: www.undp.am

    and/or

    Center For Regional Development/ Transparency International Armenia
    5 Nalbandyan St., Rooms 35/38, Yerevan 0010, Armenia.
    Tel: (+37410) 585 578, 526 914, Fax: (+37410) 585 578.
    E-mail: [email protected];
    Website: www.transparency.am
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