Representatives of the Armenian Ministry of Defence, Transparency International Anticorruption Center Armenia (TIAC), Transparency International UK, and the UK Ministry of Defence gathered for two days in Yerevan to discuss mechanisms for building accountability and integrity in defence establishments.

There were three main aims to the event: first, to initiate a discussion on how the Ministry of Defence and civil society can work together to address corruption risks; second, to share information about the work that the Ministry of Defence and TIAC have done in this area; and third, to decide on areas of potential joint work for the future. The event also served as a professional development opportunity for TIAC on defence and military accountability.

The Ministry of Defence presented the Armenian defence sector reforms and Armenia’s commitments under NATO's Building Integrity Initiative.

TIAC introduced its findings of their corruption risk assessment study, which placed Armenia among countries where corruption risks are high.

The UK Ministry of Defence and TI UK introduced international experiences of defence sector accountability and cooperation between the ministries of defence and civil society.

The Ministry of Defence of Armenia and TIAC discussed actions that are needed to improve the transparency and accountability of the defence sector. They also identified four areas that are important to both the Ministry of Defence of Armenia and TIAC, where the Ministry could rely on expert support of TI UK and TI Armenia. Those areas include:

1. Reviewing and strengthening whistleblower protection and complaints mechanisms;
2. Suggesting improved practices for parliament’s access to defence budgets and oversight of the sector;
3. Providing input on the draft law on Public Sector Information Protection;
4. Improving procurement regulations and good practice.