– Mr. Cantor, you know about British engineer Bruce Tasker’s allegations against the World Bank (WB), which concern violations in the water supply system development project of Yerevan. You have applied to different international organizations with a suggestion to investigate those claims. How does the Embassy of Great Britain relate to such allegations?
– There is a law about corruption and bribery in Great Britain, which obligates all British Embassies of the world to inform the British government about any announcement concerning bribery, corruption and fraud, which may concern any British citizen or institution. If we receive information concerning such allegations, we have to inform London, the ministry of Foreign Affairs about them, which later sends that information to the Serious Fraud Office.
– What kind of institution is that?
– It is an investigation body, which is in charge of investigating announcements concerning serious fraud and violations. This institution involves people, who are able to investigate such announcements professionally and decide whether the investigation should be continued, and whether there are sufficient facts to institute legal proceedings. This institution itself decides whether there are sufficient facts to continue investigations and whether there is a need to conduct further inquiries and get new facts. Neither the Embassy nor the United Kingdom can do more than just informing them about such information. We can’t interfere with the investigation or its process. We also sent a letter to the WB Institutional Integrity Department (INT) in May, 2007, with which we informed that we were aware of that issue and expressed hope that the investigation would be conducted in a due and timely manner.
– When did you apply to the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Great Britain in connection with this issue?
– For the first time we sent that information at the beginning of 2005, for the second time – at the end of 2006, when Mr. Tasker rose that issue again.
– You have applied twice. 2 years have passed since the first application. Hasn’t the Embassy tried to find out in which phase the proceedings are?
– I think that as in all investigation institutions, as well as in the Serious Fraud Office they don’t inform about the details of investigation.
– In fact, the investigation has not finished since 2004.
– I may assume that it has not finished. Such institutions are not very big and don’t have many staff. I don’t know how many such cases they receive and how they decide the priority of such cases.
– Hasn’t the Embassy tried to find out any details concerning the investigation process after submitting the application?
– Generally we keep contact with the Foreign Affairs Ministry and they are generally in contact with that office. As far as they haven’t finished the investigation and haven’t made a decision, they will not inform about the details.
– Does the Serious Fraud Office of London have the authority to make decisions itself concerning any case of corruption and impose punishment on a British citizen even if such cases happen within the WB or other institution and in another country?
– The Serious Fraud Office investigates those cases, which involve British citizens or institutions, even if those people or institutions are out of the territory of Great Britain and not depending on the fact whether it is done within the WB or in other institutions.
– In the given case, is the Embassy interested in investigating this case due to the fact that the allegations were made by British citizen Mr. Tasker?
– The problem is not the fact that allegations have been brought by British citizen Mr. Tasker. The problem is the fact that allegations have been brought against a British citizen. (To note, Mr. Tasker accuses the WB Yerevan office for the mentioned violations in the water supply system development project of Yerevan. During the mentioned project implementation period the head of the WB Yerevan office was Roger Robinson, who is a British citizen. As well as representative of “A Utility” Richard Walkling is a British citizen – A.A.).The British law on corruption and bribery allows instituting legal proceedings against British citizens in another country if such accusations have been brought against them. Namely, legal proceedings may be instituted against citizens of Great Britain for such crimes, even if the crime has been done out of Great Britain.
– What issues did the Embassy propose in its application submitted to INT?
– In fact we haven’t asked questions to INT, and as it is, we don’t expect answers. In the letter we just expressed hope that the investigation would be conducted and questions would be asked in a duly and timely manner.
– With what issue did the Embassy apply to the representative of Britain in WB at the beginning of August?
– We keep contact with the WB office in Washington through our representative. It is not supposed that they should discover information as far as the investigation has not finished. I know that now they are in contact with GAP (Government Accountability Project), which represents Mr. Tasker. There are certain limitations on public discussions as far as the investigation is in process, which I believe is accepted in the whole world.