WHERE ARMENIAN OFFICIALS LAUNDER THEIR MONEY
Interview with economist Ashot Yeghiazaryan
Mr. Yeghiazaryan, what is known about assets of Armenian oligarchs
and officials hidden in the offshore?
Almost all the Armenian figures have assets in the offshore. Everyone
who is present in mining and bank systems. Offshore is the best to
legalize, "launder" the assets.
What is the impact on the economy of Armenia?
If an asset is registered in the offshore, it already means that the
owner is involved in corruption schemes and an attempt is made to
hide the owner. It is lack of transparency. Integration with criminal
groups threatens national and economic security. Usually such groups
are stronger, states are weaker in countries with weak development.
The stronger the state machine of a country, the closer control over
these groups will be. If such groups are strong in our economy, it
means that the state will remain weak. What is the way out of this
situation? The strengthening of the state machine.
Is it possible now?
It is possible only in one case if there is such a responsible force
and people. Such forces are born both in and out of the state system.
Only in this case will it be possible to make changes. Favorable
external conditions, partnership, commitments may help it. These
factors could expedite the process and take the situation under
control.
The Russian Public Anti-Corruption Council threatens to publish the
names of Armenian officials involved in misuse and embezzlement. What
is Russia's message to the Armenian side?
This could be viewed at the economic, not political level. On the
other hand, it can be viewed at the political level in the sense that
a strong state can use its levers to influence a weaker state. As
a result it will be an internal brawl for economic interests. The
loop is tightening, I mean offshore and else, as if there is a force
from developed countries which tries to set tougher rules of the
game and corner the international economic criminal gangs. There
might be a struggle for incorrect distribution of the output. There
have been other similar publications, names of Armenian officials
were mentioned. All this is certainly related to subjects which have
economic power in Russia and Armenia which are also identified with
people who have political power today. It will not be a surprise if
a Russian politician has questions about Kocharyan. It may occur in
the result of the struggle among different economic groups.
Today semi-peripheral countries have become strong enough to challenge
the countries that make up the core of the global capitalistic
economy. International economic criminal groups which might be trying
to extend their influence over developed countries threaten their
security. These countries have certain resources, a strong state
machine, they try to use everything to strengthen their positions,
which causes controversies against the global economic halt. In fact,
there is no economic growth, there is struggle for sharing what is
in place, the conflict among the center, semi-periphery, periphery
escalates, the fight for distribution starts.
Roza Hovhannisyan 14:01 18/04/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/interview/view/29659
From: Baghdasarian
Interview with economist Ashot Yeghiazaryan
Mr. Yeghiazaryan, what is known about assets of Armenian oligarchs
and officials hidden in the offshore?
Almost all the Armenian figures have assets in the offshore. Everyone
who is present in mining and bank systems. Offshore is the best to
legalize, "launder" the assets.
What is the impact on the economy of Armenia?
If an asset is registered in the offshore, it already means that the
owner is involved in corruption schemes and an attempt is made to
hide the owner. It is lack of transparency. Integration with criminal
groups threatens national and economic security. Usually such groups
are stronger, states are weaker in countries with weak development.
The stronger the state machine of a country, the closer control over
these groups will be. If such groups are strong in our economy, it
means that the state will remain weak. What is the way out of this
situation? The strengthening of the state machine.
Is it possible now?
It is possible only in one case if there is such a responsible force
and people. Such forces are born both in and out of the state system.
Only in this case will it be possible to make changes. Favorable
external conditions, partnership, commitments may help it. These
factors could expedite the process and take the situation under
control.
The Russian Public Anti-Corruption Council threatens to publish the
names of Armenian officials involved in misuse and embezzlement. What
is Russia's message to the Armenian side?
This could be viewed at the economic, not political level. On the
other hand, it can be viewed at the political level in the sense that
a strong state can use its levers to influence a weaker state. As
a result it will be an internal brawl for economic interests. The
loop is tightening, I mean offshore and else, as if there is a force
from developed countries which tries to set tougher rules of the
game and corner the international economic criminal gangs. There
might be a struggle for incorrect distribution of the output. There
have been other similar publications, names of Armenian officials
were mentioned. All this is certainly related to subjects which have
economic power in Russia and Armenia which are also identified with
people who have political power today. It will not be a surprise if
a Russian politician has questions about Kocharyan. It may occur in
the result of the struggle among different economic groups.
Today semi-peripheral countries have become strong enough to challenge
the countries that make up the core of the global capitalistic
economy. International economic criminal groups which might be trying
to extend their influence over developed countries threaten their
security. These countries have certain resources, a strong state
machine, they try to use everything to strengthen their positions,
which causes controversies against the global economic halt. In fact,
there is no economic growth, there is struggle for sharing what is
in place, the conflict among the center, semi-periphery, periphery
escalates, the fight for distribution starts.
Roza Hovhannisyan 14:01 18/04/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/interview/view/29659
From: Baghdasarian