The members of the RA NA delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe take part in the work of the Second Part of the Annual Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). During the session the member of the delegation Vladimir Vardanyan gave a speech.
“Honorable Mr. Chair,
First of all, let me congratulate Mr. Schwabe, the rapporteur, for an excellent report reflecting the main challenges in the field of fight against corruption our organization facing with.
The Council of Europe was established to enhance respect for the rule of law, improve democracy, and uphold human rights. During the last 75 years we have reached the tremendous results in the field of fight against corruption.
It is important to recognize that the Council of Europe is more than just a human rights organization. We became the benchmark standard-setting organization in many fields including human rights, democracy, rule of law and fight against corruption. We have established GRECO and launched other anti-corruption initiatives.
Several years ago we were all taken aback by the news that our Assembly, a democratic forum designed inter alia to combat corruption, included members who was embroiled in corrupt practices. It was a shock for all of us and those corruption scandals severely tarnished the organization's image. Nevertheless, due to decisive actions of this Assembly and its brave and devoted members we were able to rectify the situation.
Ladies and gentlemen,
There is no vaccination against corruption. We must remain vigilant and proactive in our daily lives, adapting to the challenges we encounter. We need to establish updated integrity rules that align with current standards and expectations.
Having clear, user-friendly rules of procedure while prioritizing ethical standards would significantly enhance our organization’s anti-corruption efforts. The integrity of the Assembly’s members should serve as a foundational principle for our ongoing work. I firmly believe that an updated code of conduct for our members will set a new benchmark for all member states.
It is difficult to comprehend and even more complicated to explain why within an organization, where the integrity of members is a keystone, we still face instances of members failing to submit their annual declarations. Therefore, the amendment to the rules of procedure proposed by the Draft Resolution are both timely and justified.
Each and every member of our Assembly should operate with understanding that the status of a member of the PACE is not given for granted, it gives privileges and immunities but also imply high moral standards and responsibilities. Those who hold this status should respect the Council of Europe, this Assembly and its values during their terms of office and after their termination. Any former member of PACE who fails to honor these values should not continue to be benefited from their honorary status.
This would be our moral response to those who disregard the very essence of our organization, regardless of whether they are ordinary citizens, members of parliaments or heads of state,” the representative of the Armenian delegation noted.
