On October 15, 2014 Media Center hosted a press conference with the participation of Varuzhan Hoktanyan, Executive Director of Transparency International Anticorruption Center (TIAC) and Suren Krmoyan, RA Deputy Minister of Justice. They addressed corruption in Armenia, the effectiveness of fighting corruption and the new concept of national anticorruption strategy. In the assessment of Varuzhan Hoktanyan no significant change has occurred in TI Corruption Perceptions Index in Armenia though the situation was slightly improved due to investing e-government system, however it has merely solved the problem of corruption prevention, which is only one of the main components of effective anticorruption policy, together with detection and public support.

The previous two national anticorruption strategies (2003-2007 and 2009-2012) emphasized corruption prevention, which is not sufficient according to Varuzhan Hoktanyan. For effective anticorruption policy implementation corruption detection is also needed to be addressed. The speakers agreed that the population of Armenia was rather tolerant of corruption, since prevention and detection mechanisms are not enough effective.

Suren Krmoyan said that 4 main target areas were chosen to fight corruption – education, public health, tax bodies and police. The new anticorruption strategy provides broader opportunities for targeted fight against corruption.

The developed strategy is intended to enhance public trust in public governance system, to formulate conscientious and responsible public service, as well as to provide transparency of governance and public accountability. In the opinion of the Deputy Minister the new strategy will give better opportunity to provide effectiveness.

Varuzhan Hoktanyan is of the opinion that the weaknesses of the previous strategies were in the failure to create a comprehensive institutional system, which might be able to change the situation. If the new strategy also fails to solve the problem, TIAC Executive Director doubts that it might also prove to be ineffective.