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Statement On Armenia Judicial Reform Project Implementation

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  • Statement On Armenia Judicial Reform Project Implementation

    STATEMENT ON ARMENIA JUDICIAL REFORM PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

    A1 Plus | 21:04:06 | 03-06-2004 | Official |

    YEREVAN, June 3, 2004. - Over the past weeks there has been growing
    attention and public discussions surrounded the World Bank financed
    Judicial Reform Project, approved by the Board of Directors of the
    Bank in September, 2000. The debates were particularly focused on the
    Supervision Report of the Chamber of Control of the National Assembly
    that was prepared in the beginning of 2003 and recently presented to
    the National Assembly.

    The Bank realizes that the supervision and evaluation of the project
    carried out by the Chamber of Control is an internal matter for
    Armenia and it does not want to interfere in this process. However,
    during some public appearances and interviews some officials made
    specific references to the World Bank and have questioned some of
    the fiduciary aspects and safeguards of this project. Given this
    there is a need to explain the Bank's official position on some of
    the important project implementation aspects, and Roger Robinson,
    Armenia Country Manager finds it necessary to provide the following
    clarifications on some of the issues raised.

    1. The World Bank attaches significant importance to the Judicial
    Reforms in Armenia and as a development partner it intends to continue
    supporting the Armenian authorities in this key area.

    2. From the very beginning of the Project the World Bank has been
    carrying out close monitoring and supervision of the project
    implementation. Since the start of the Project the Bank has
    conducted supervision missions at least twice a year during which it
    discussed and reviewed the project implementation details with key
    project counterparts, as well as with other stakeholders. During the
    supervision missions the Bank's team has agreed with the implementing
    agency on any changes in the project design or components that are
    necessary for effective implementation of the project activities and
    which would contribute to the achievement of the Project Development
    Objectives.

    3. Unfortunately, due to various reasons the Project start was uneven
    and there were delays in some of the important project components. The
    Bank has always expressed its concern about the slow implementation
    of the institutional development part of the project. However,
    during the last year some positive progress has been recorded in this
    complex area.

    4. All the procurements and civil works under the Judicial Reform
    Project have been designed and carried out according to the World Bank
    procurement guidelines and procedures. For example, all civil works,
    including court house rehabilitation, have been subject to rigorous
    competitive tendering processes. These have been regularly reviewed
    by the World Bank's procurement specialists. No major deficiency or
    violations of World Bank fiduciary regulations or procedures have been
    found. In addition, the Bank's financial management team conducts a
    regular review and supervision of the Project Implementing Agency's
    financial management and control systems. No major problems have been
    found in this area either.

    5. The revision(reduction) of the number of court houses that are
    supported under the Project was done in agreement with the Bank
    team. Due to higher actual construction costs the initially allocated
    budget was found insufficient for the rehabilitation of all planned
    court houses. In response to the request of the Armenian Government the
    Bank has in principal approved some reallocation within the project
    components, which would allow to complete the rehabilitation of as
    many court houses as possible.

    In addition, the Bank has also agreed with the government's request
    to extend the Project's Closing Date from December 31, 2004 till June
    30, 2006.
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