US Ambassador: Corruption negatively impacts any industry in the world and could generate a national security threat for Armenia

ArmInfo. Corruption negatively  impacts any industry in the world and could generate a national  security threat for Armenia,  Ambassador Richard M. Mills, Jr. stated  within  sidelines of  the sustainable mining business conference,  held in Yerevan  on November 16.

According to the Ambassador, one of the  United States' priorities is  to make the industries of the partner-countries more transparent,  reportable, and to reach the rule out of corruption. At that,  according to the Ambassador, the success in corruption struggle is  the first priority for improvement of the business environment in  Armenia. 

Ambassador Mills reminded also his statements made in respect to  different issues about the fact that the country and the people are  suffering with unfair  and unequal business conditions and total  corruption. "Corruption makes harm for every economy in the world,  can destroy democracy, supremacy of law and to generate threats to  national security," the Ambassador stated. At the same time the Head  of American Diplomatic Mission in Armenia mentioned some positive  impulses in this aspect.

To note, in September 2015, in an interview with the RFE/RL Armenian  Service (Azatutyun), US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills said that  corruption sets back economic growth, hurts human rights development,  and undermines democracy. He thinks corruption "even undermines the  national security" because outside forces can control the development  of the country. The question is whether the government has tools and  a political will, but there is a civil society that can help the  government to fight it, he said. "If we cannot address this large  issue of corruption, which I understand is a serious issue - I know  it affects so much of Armenia's daily life - it will affect a large  part of our relationship in specific areas, for instance, investment.   I am very committed to growing the commercial ties, the investment  ties between Armenia and the United States. I think that now is the  time to focus on it. But to attract US investment, investors need to  know the climate, where everyone is treated the same, where there is  no unfair competition, where government services are equally  available to everyone," Ambassador Mills said in his interview. "And  if we don't see the Anti-Corruption Council address those things, I  think it will hurt the opportunities for investment," he noted. "My  message to anyone who has an issue of corruption is find the way to  highlight it, don't be afraid to speak up, I do believe there are  tools at your disposal within the government to address it, to find  someone who will help you address it," he said.