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A new report The National Integrity Systems TI Country Study Report - Armenia 2003 has been published today by Transparency International (TI) and TI’s national chapter in Armenia, the Centre for Regional Development (CRD)/TI Armenia. TI is the leading global non-governmental organisation devoted to combating corruption.
The TI study assessed the effectiveness of the Armenian National Integrity System (NIS), which is comprised of key institutions that contribute to the fight against corruption. None of the institutions evaluated are functioning effectively in Armenia, according to the report. Among the key systemic factors influencing the NIS in Armenia are the absence of political will, the lack of independence and autonomy of institutions, the weak legal framework and poor law enforcement, the lack of administrative and human capacity, the low level of public participation in the policy-making, etc.
The report emphasises the need to promote free and fair elections, by strengthening the party system, making electoral commissions more accountable to the public, and giving more rights to proxies and observers. Improving institutional capacity is another priority.
“The success of the reform process is largely determined by the broad support of the country’s population, which can be promoted by enhancing public awareness and education”, according to the report. The role of professional and independent media and, specifically, investigative journalism, is also crucial for success in the fight against corruption.
