Armenia’s speaker defends party colleagues, stresses fight against corruption
Golos Armenii, Yerevan
28 Oct 04
Armenian National Assembly Chairman Artur Bagdasaryan has said
that parliament is leading the fight against corruption in
the executive authorities. Answering questions from readers of
Armenian newspaper Golos Armenii, Bagdasaryan defended his party’s
personnel policy, backing the science and culture ministers who are
members of the coalition government from his Law-Governed Country
Party. Bagdasaryan said that he had no plans at present to stand in
the next presidential elections. He also said that parliament would
have a thorough discussion on sending troops to Iraq. The following
is an excerpt from Lana Mshetsyan and Tigran Mirzoyan’s “hot line”
interview in Golos Armenii on 28 October headlined “An Armenian studies
magazine will be published,’ Armenian National Assembly Chairman Artur
Bagdasaryan said, answering questions from the Golos Armenii hot line”;
subheadings inserted editorially:
Areg Pogosyan, engineer Predictions have appeared recently in the
media that name you alongside the justice minister David Arutyunyan ,
prosecutor-general Aram Tamazyan and defence minister Serzh Sarkisyan
as the most likely contenders in the next presidential elections. What
do you think of these predictions?
No plans to run for president
Artur Bagdasaryan At present I do not have such plans. I am
philosophical about these predictions.
Passage omitted: cooperation needed in parliament to legislate on
compensation for lost investments in the USSR-era Savings Bank;
Bagdasaryan keen to see more young people in politics
Armenian parties lack sufficient professionals
Bagrat Israelyan, teacher Do you think that the personnel policy based
on the coalition principle has justified itself, or should preference
in appointments be given after all to professional qualities?
Bagdasaryan I don’t think it’s correct to oppose the political and
professional principles in the appointment of personnel when it
is a question of political posts, while other structures of power
are apolitical according to the law on state service. Throughout
the civilized world personnel policy is conducted on the coalition
principle. Not local big shots but professional politicians should be
engaged in politics. Unfortunately, not all parties in Armenia have
sufficient personnel potential. This also concerns the Law-Governed
Country Party Orinats Yerkir . Our party is young and, I think,
in time we will have sufficient professional personnel.
Parliament is fighting corruption
Liana Manukyan, musician Why is parliament passive in the fight
against corruption? If you do not agree with this viewpoint, give
specific examples as the basis for your position.
Artur Bagdasaryan I think that it is precisely parliament that is
fighting corruption, because it is no secret that corruption lies
within the executive authorities. Our Audit Chamber is our main
instrument. For instance, last year for the first time in 15 years
parliament did not approve the government’s privatization programme,
because it is not clear to us how a territory of 4,000 sq.m. in the
city centre can be sold for 21,000 US dollars.
Parliament to have thorough discussion on sending troops to Iraq
Karlen Gabriyelyan, construction engineer What do you think of the
prospect of our military being sent to Iraq? Are you not afraid that
this may turn into a threat to the security of our country?
Bagdasaryan The Armenian parliament should thoroughly discuss this
issue when the National Assembly gets the official document. In giving
legal and political assessments we should strictly base ourselves on
this document.
Passage omitted: Bagdasaryan prefers political and psychological
literature
New rules to punish MPs for failing to attend parliament sittings
Mikhail Avetisov, pensioner Parliament sittings take place in an
almost empty hall. Why do the deputies not attend? And what are you
going to do to bring the opposition back to parliament? Why, when they
are not working in parliament and not fulfilling their obligations,
do the opposition (and not only opposition) deputies get their salary
from the taxpayers’ pocket?
Bagdasaryan The question is correct. There are a certain number of
deputies who do not want to take part in the work of parliament at
all. This is very bad. But these deputies were elected and we cannot do
anything about it. As for deputies who are absent without good reason,
we have already discussed this. Soon corrections will be made to the
sitting regulations, according to which a deputy who does not attend
sittings without good reason will be punished financially.
Passage omitted: Bagdasaryan advises refugees to approach his adviser
to solve their problems; Yerevan residents complain about illegal
construction of Thailand’s consulate; Bagdasaryan says he often
meets veterans
Justice minister cannot personally resolve all problems in legal system
Grigoriy Kazaryan, pensioner The judicial system of Armenia is one
the most corrupt in the republic. The latest famous statements of
the Prosecutor-General’s Office are evidence of this. This is one of
the reasons for the population’s emigration. Do you not think that
Justice Minister David Arutyunyan cannot (or may be does not want) to
correct the situation and should retire? Why is your party called the
Law-Governed Country Party when none of its members fights for justice?
Bagdasaryan We are fighting for justice and many examples are evidence
of this. As for the judicial system, I agree that corruption in this
sphere is very high. There is corruption in the law-enforcement
agencies as well. It is necessary to fight this very negative
phenomenon. As for Justice Minister David Arutyunyan, I do not
think that he personally should settle all the problems connected
with the judicial system, that is, to be responsible for all the
judicial sins. Judicial and legal reform has been conducted in our
country, certain specific reforms will be conducted in 2005. I hope
the situation will gradually change for the better, but for this
social legislation should be improved and the living standards of
population should be raised.
Passage omitted: Bagdasaryan stresses his support for science, will
support publication of an Armenian studies journal; says health
council is working within the law
Defends education and culture ministers
Yervand Manasaryan, professor The ministers who are Law-Governed
Country Party appointees figure constantly in scandals: the science
minister Sergo Yeritsyan does not deal with science, the culture
minister Ovik Oveyan moved from a stupid personnel policy in the circus
to a stupid personnel policy in the choreography school, then in the
Chamber Theatre… ellipses as published What’s next? Surely society
shouldn’t have only to suffer from your personnel idiosyncrasies? Do
you at least know how many people are suffering from the actions of
Law-Governed Country Party appointees in more humble posts?
Bagdasaryan We’ll begin by saying that first of all the Armenian
Academy of Sciences should deal with issues of science. I support this
approach. The ministry is called the Ministry of Education and Science,
but does not in reality have the authority to deal with issues related
to science and we should expand the functions of the Armenian Academy
of Sciences.
As for the minister of culture, he is a very famous cultural figure,
the author of many books and screenplays, a dramatist. All his family
are closely linked with the world of the arts, of creativity. As for
the examples listed, these are in many instances artificial scandals,
which play into someone’s hands… ellipses as published
I cannot agree with the questioner. In many other ministries the
situation is much more complex than in those mentioned. I acknowledge
that there are problems, but no more than in other ministries.
It should not be forgotten that science and culture are the spheres
of individuals, bright, outstanding individuals. So it is not at all
simple to get to grips with things here and one should not rush to
draw conclusions and make accusations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress