Notes for Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch Eurasia Partnership Foundation Anti-Corruption Conference
Ambassador's Speeches
Notes for Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch
Eurasia Partnership Foundation Anti-Corruption Conference
The Role of Government, Non-Governmental Organizations and Media in the Fight against Corruption: Lessons Learned During a Two-Year Program
December 15, 2008
Good morning.
Mr. Badalyan, President Zarubin Director Ter-Gabrielyan, NGO representatives, fellow members of the international community, representatives of the media, honored guests, ladies and gentlemen:
You are the community that is at the forefront of the fight against corruption, and it is an honor to be with you here today, to discuss the roles of Government, NGOs, the media, and ordinary citizens, and the necessity of a strong partnership among them in any successful fight against corruption.
A great American political leader and one of my personal heroes, Robert F. Kennedy once said "Laws can embody standards; governments can enforce laws — but the final task is not a task for government. It is a task for each and every one of us. Every time we turn our heads the other way when we see the law flouted — when we tolerate what we know to be wrong — when we close our eyes and ears to the corrupt because we are too busy, or too frightened — when we fail to speak up and speak out — we strike a blow against freedom and decency and justice." That’s a powerful observation, because it highlights that fighting corruption is a task not only of government and law enforcement, but for society as a whole -- for media, for civil society, for average citizens, for teachers and schoolchildren, for public servants, politicians, and businessmen, and for you and me.
Corruption is not a problem unique to any one country or any one region. We in the United States also find ourselves in a never ending battle against corruption. Just this past October, United States Senator Ted Stevens, a very senior and powerful member of the U.S. Republican Party, was convicted on seven counts of bribery and tax evasion, and could face jail time. And last week, the Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and solicitation to commit bribery as part of a scheme to shake down donors and politicians for senior government jobs and campaign contributions, including perhaps President-elect Obama’s Senate Seat. A major U.S. corruption scandal in 2005 and 2006 involved a well known Washington lobbyist, Jack Abramoff, who was convicted along with twelve other people for conspiracy, tax evasion, and corruption in a wide-ranging investigation that generated a great deal of in-depth media coverage. Among the officials convicted in the Abramoff case were Republican Congressman Bob Ney and the Deputy Secretary of Interior Steven Griles. These cases involve both major U.S. political parties, and powerful, high-ranking U.S. government officials. And these examples I’ve mentioned only cover some of the most famous U.S. corruption prosecutions over the last three years. Sadly, we are familiar with the problem of corruption in the United States. It is shameful. It is wrong. And worst of all, every time there is corruption, the public looses, because decisions are made based on an individual’s pocketbook – not based on the public good.
But what is different about the way we handle these issues is that we understand that corruption is an all too human failing. We don’t regard these scandals as evidence that our system doesn’t work … but rather as proof that it does. With the exception of the Blagojevich case which is still pending, every one of these corruption scandals was brought to light, investigated and prosecuted, and the perpetrators punished, no matter how high-ranking and powerful they were. Most of these cases were first uncovered by investigative journalists in the independent media. And after each of these experiences, we learn. We make our laws better and we make our systems and daily government processes stronger, in order to make corruption more difficult.
These experiences help us strengthen our understanding that corruption is not a problem that government alone can resolve. As in the United States, here in Armenia, corruption is a large-scale challenge requiring an integrated approach that includes the development and implementation of government systems and policies that make corrupt practices more difficult and more likely to be detected. A successful battle against corruption requires aggressive investigation and prosecution that results in meaningful consequences for corrupt activity, an engaged civil society, and, an active and responsible independent media that can bring corruption problems to light and magnify the efforts of investigators and prosecutors.
Civil society and professional, responsible, and balanced investigative journalists are the most effective weapons that we have in our fight against corruption. They are an independent set of eyes and ears that can bring problems to light in ways that police investigators and prosecutors can not. They are also an important tool for government officials, as an independent and reliable source of information that can tell them just how well, or how poorly, their subordinates are really doing in implementing their serious anti-corruption agenda. That is why any unfounded attack – whether physical or otherwise – against NGOs and the press is so troublesome, because it is the responsibility of the government to ensure not only that all of us fulfill our responsibilities under the law, but also to protect our ability to exercise our rights.
Today in Armenia, in spite of efforts by the Government and civil society, concrete progress in the fight against corruption remains limited. In fact, the Transparency International 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index for Armenia describes a situation that is getting worse. Armenia continues to suffer from a perception that it is a place of persistently high corruption, where administrative and legal barriers and an arbitrary and corruptible judiciary constrain both domestic and international investment, impede economic growth, and encourage economic out-migration.
Corruption does not change until there is a strong signal from the top -- not just talk about intentions to fight corruption, but actions that show there are serious consequences for those who engage in it, no matter how rich, powerful or well-connected they are. Rules need to apply to everyone. An active civil society and a strong and responsible independent media are the means to ensure that.
Over the last few months there have been some positive signs of the Government of Armenia’s more serious engagement in the fight against corruption. Reforms in customs administration, campaigns in the regions led by the Prosecutor General, public consultations on the drafting of the new National Anticorruption Strategy, a greater level of public communication by the Government on anticorruption issues, as well as the clear priority that both President Sargsian and Prime Minister Sargsian are placing on this issue, are all indications of an increased commitment to undertake significant measures to fight corruption.
I’m encouraged by these steps. From what they tell me, however, many Armenians, are still waiting to see whether the government is really prepared to arrest and charge high-ranking officials or powerful, well-connected businessmen for corruption-related crimes. Will the anti-corruption campaign be politically neutral and based on objective law, or simply a tool to punish those who are out of favor, while turning a blind eye to officials who are loyal to the governing coalition?
We in the United States Embassy are pleased to be your partners in Armenia’s struggle against corruption. USAID, for example, integrates anti-corruption elements into all of its activities, in all sectors: from helping to establish systems to eliminate informal payments at medical facilities, to developing ethics codes for judges, and increasing transparency in the state tax service. The U.S. Justice Department and State Department have also collaborated to provide technical advice on anti-corruption in the judicial field.
United States Government assistance programs are actively supporting the development of your new National Anti-Corruption Strategy, working closely with the Public Relations Office of the Prime Minister in the development of an “Internal and External Anti-Corruption Communications Strategy”, and working with local NGOs to establish eleven marz-based Advocacy and Assistance Centers throughout Armenia. These centers will provide citizens and businesses with assistance and legal counsel to help them address corruption issues that they face on a daily basis, and to empower citizens to work alongside government to reduce corruption by adopting procedural changes and systems-level reforms.
Corruption is not about evil people doing bad things. It is an all too human problem that occurs wherever there is a sense of entitlement, opportunity, and a belief that the consequences are limited. Corruption is a difficult and complex challenge, but one that can be overcome through our collective effort to fight against it.
I applaud the people in this room, who are so committed to this struggle. The U.S. government, the American people, are proud to support you.
Thank you.