Fighting against corruption impossible without broad public support: president Serzh Sargsyan said

YEREVAN, February 4. / ARKA /. Fighting against corruption is impossible without a broad public support, Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview with Ogonek Russian magazine.

"This disease is widespread. But this is a small consolation. A citizen could face corruption when interacting with police, courts, or requesting a reference and so on ... Corruption reflects first of all the state of society. And combating it without public support is impossible," Sargsyan said.

According to him, success is possible only by joining efforts. 

“We need to improve the legal framework, to change people's mindsets. You see, Armenia has specific challenges, for example, giving testimony in a three million country  where all are interrelated  by either being relatives or friends is indeed a challenge. Another affecting factor is the social standing of people. When a low level official’s salary is an equivalent of $150, it raises a lot of temptations, “he said.

According to him, although the average wages in Armenia rose last year by 5 percent to $300, and inflation is low, "we understand that $300 is still a very amount." -0-