Effective fight against corruption must be based on facts- prime minister
09.06.2016,
11:31
In response to a question from opposition lawmaker Nikol Pashinyan whether he believes that high-ranking government officials, including ministers of finance, transport and communications, chief of police and others are corrupt, prime minister Hovik Abrahamyan retorted that an effective fight against corruption should be based on facts.
YEREVAN, June 9. /ARKA/. In response to a question from opposition lawmaker Nikol Pashinyan whether he believes that high-ranking government officials, including ministers of finance, transport and communications, chief of police and others are corrupt, prime minister Hovik Abrahamyan retorted that an effective fight against corruption should be based on facts.
"It is not up to me to say whether they are corrupt or not. Have you ever presented at least a single sensible and grounded fact involving corrupt officials to law enforcement bodies which they refused to investigate?" Abrahamyan asked.
"I understand that such statements please the public at large, and you as an MP take advantage of your right to make such statements. What I ask is to help us in the fight against corruption, but not by allegations. Present facts and together we will check them," said Abrahamyan.
Speaking at a cabinet session on May 12 Abrahamyan said the increased risk of an all-out war with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh made it evident that the government should streamline its expenditures, step up the fight against corruption and improve the domestic business environment. He also said to become more efficient the government will downsize many of its agencies through staff cuts. -0-
"It is not up to me to say whether they are corrupt or not. Have you ever presented at least a single sensible and grounded fact involving corrupt officials to law enforcement bodies which they refused to investigate?" Abrahamyan asked.
"I understand that such statements please the public at large, and you as an MP take advantage of your right to make such statements. What I ask is to help us in the fight against corruption, but not by allegations. Present facts and together we will check them," said Abrahamyan.
Speaking at a cabinet session on May 12 Abrahamyan said the increased risk of an all-out war with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh made it evident that the government should streamline its expenditures, step up the fight against corruption and improve the domestic business environment. He also said to become more efficient the government will downsize many of its agencies through staff cuts. -0-
