The board of directors will decide the question of Armenia’s participation in the second phase of the “Millennium Challenge Corporation” (MCC) program in December. Note that after March 1, 2008 when RA applied for the participation of the program’s second phase, the application was denied with the argumentation that the control of corruption indicator in RA was lower than the established norm. Information and Public Relation Department of the Government of Armenia informed “Mediamax” that the question of Armenia’s participation in on the agenda of Armenian-American financial cooperation.
What has changed since 2008 and does RA have chances of getting involved in the program?
President of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia Avetik Ishkhanyan is not very optimistic.
On this occasion speaking to Aravot.am, the human rights advocate recalled that when RA was removed from the program, Levon Barseghyan applied to know the reason but he did not get any answer. According to the information, one of the reasons of being removed from the list was March 1 and the corruption problems. As Avetik Ishanyan states while the question of the March 1 victims remains unsettled and open, the juridical system is not independent especially from the president of the country, the corruption dominates in the system.
Mr. Ishkhanyan said:
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-My impression is that the whole system in the governance of Armenia is managed by corruption. Only the declared property of the officials speaks of much, let alone the business.
In this context Avetik Ishkhanyan does not consider it a coincidence that even in case of having some political disagreements none of them resigns because the whole discrediting evidence will be put on him.
The human rights advocate gave the example of Gagik Tsarukyan and Hovik Abrahamyan.
– Last year’s defeat of RA president over Gagik Tsarukyan, and the fact of taking no measure about it are again connected with that. The fact that Hovik Abrahamyan did not struggle for his career is again connected with that. This is the scene of Armenia.
It will not be surprising to Avetik Ishkhanyan if Armenia gets involved in the MCC program again since the decision would be political. We wondered if the Russian-West relations will have a role in this, Mr. Ishkhanyan answered:
– There are many depths including Turkey-US relationships. I do not exclude, moreover I consider Armenia’s involvement possible based on geopolitical situation.
To our observation that the involvement in the program would definitely be positive in terms of financial flows, but on the other hand it would not mean that the aspiration would decrease in terms of ensuring human rights and democracy by RA authorities since there would not be threats by the USA anymore, Mr. Ishkahnayn said:
– I could say they have to take measures if at least something was done to release Shant Harutyunyan and his friends, if the issue of political prisoners was solved, if Andreas Ghukasyan, Karo Eghnukyan were not in prison till now.
We stated that the authorities still have time till December, thus whether it is possible that under the name of amnesty the abovementioned people get released. Mr. Ishkhanyan did not exclude:
– It is possible that under the name of amnesty some people will get released connected also with the envisaged parliamentary elections of the next year. It is a moot point for the authorities to go for the elections in the tensed situation.
Mr. Ishkhanyan noted that it would have been preferable if some preconditions were put to Armenia in case of getting involved in the MCC; for example if that aid was connected with the quality of the parliamentary elections.
– Of course, some preconditions will be put but if the question is about to maintain the power, then in that case neither MCC, nor Armenia-EU treaties would be priority for the authorities. For them the maintenance of the power is a priority; they think if the others are there, then it is very good, if not, we will maintain the power somehow.
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
