Marie Yovanovitch: ''The report was just and fair''
The Advocacy and Assistance Center (AAC) of Yerevan opened in Yerevan today. US Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, as well as representatives from the Armenian Government, the international community and local NGOs attended the event.
"A country facing the problem of computer corruption can combat against the phenomenon only on a state level. Our organisations can only support the state in the struggle if only the state demonstrates a will to cope with the problem," Head of the Transparency International Yerevan office, Amalya Kostanyan said during the opening ceremony.
Funded and established through the USAID Mobilizing Action against Corruption (MAAC) Activity, the Center will help citizens resolve corruption-related problems by providing legal advice and assistance in legal processing of complaints. The MACC will also provide citizens with channels for reporting corruption and directing complaints to government agencies, as well as stimulate reforms by recommending systems-level changes to the Government of Armenia.
In her opening remarks Ambassador Yovanovitch reiterated the US Government's commitment to democratic reform and good governance in Armenia. "Successfully reducing corruption requires and integrated approach that includes the development and implementation of government systems and policies to make corrupt practices more difficult and detectable," said the Ambassador, noting the importance and role of civil society institutions and independent media in bringing corruption problems to light.
With regard to the U.S. State Department's critical report on Armenia's leadership, Mrs. Yovanovitch said the report was fair and just from the point of view of human rights.
