Today, the RA Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan received Mr. Karen Zadoyan, President of the organiser of the International Anti-Corruption Conference – Armenian Lawyers’ Association, “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” Project Manager, Mr. Shervin Majlessi the Deputy Coordinator of the World Bank’s Stolen Assets Recovery Initiative (STAR), Mr. Anga Timilsina, Global Programme Advisor Anti-Corruption Global Center for Public Service Excellence, and Ms Aida Arutyunova, Programme Manager-Global Project-Anti-Corruption for Peaceful and Inclusive Societies Global Center for Public Service Excellence at UNDP, Singapore
Welcoming the guests, RA Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan considered important the active support of the international expert centers at the present stage of public discussions on the process of anti-corruption reforms launched in Armenia and the elaboration of an anti-corruption strategy in that context.
Arthur Davtyan noted that in the conditions of serious public support the RA law enforcement bodies have made tangible results especially in the field of anti-corruption criminal-law. However, according to the Prosecutor General, the law enforcement agencies face legal obstacles in the context of criminal proceedings, particularly in the case of recovery of damage caused by corruption offenses, the return of assets withdrawn from the country and providing legal assessments of the acts of persons involved in these processes. In that context, according to Arthur Davtyan, the development of legal flexible mechanisms for the elimination of these obstacles by studying best international practices becomes extremely urgent,
President of the Armenian Association Karen Zadoyan said in his speech that the International Anti-Corruption Conference is organised ln cooperation with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia, the Armenian Lawyers’ Association and the CSO Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia in the framework of the “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” project supported by the European Union, and in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Centre for International Private Enterprises (CIPE).
The agenda of the conference will focus on an independent anti-corruption system, a wide range of issues related to law enforcement, preventive, educational components of the fight against corruption, legal and procedural issues of recovering stolen assets. Karen Zadoyan stressed the importance of the forum, its civil society-government format, as a means of ensuring the comprehensive coverage of the current issues of anti-corruption issues with multilateral involvement. As a good example of cooperation between civil society and state bodies, Mr. Zadoyan mentioned cooperation between the RA Prosecutor’s Office and the CSO Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia.
Mr. Anga Timilsina, Global Programme Advisor Anti-Corruption Global Center for Public Service Excellence UNDP, expressed satisfaction with the determination to increase the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts in Armenia. He noted that the upcoming conference will give a good opportunity to combine Armenia’s and international experience with the choice of institutional models. as well as the prevention of criminal-law enforcement tools.
Mr. Shervin Majlessi the Deputy Coordinator of the World Bank’s Stolen Assets Recovery Initiative (STAR), particularly expressed his willingness to assist in the development of effective mechanisms for the return of stolen assets to Armenia, international experience in providing international cooperation in this field.
During the meeting other issues of mutual interest were discussed as well.
