YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. It is indisputable that the state automobile inspection in the corruption risk zone. Chief of the RA Police State Automobile Inspection (SAI) Colonel Ishkhan Ishkhanian said this during the May 19 press conference. According to him, the authorities are familiar with SAI problems and have made a political decision on reforms in the sphere, which will allow to create the necessary conditions for reducing corruption risks and the rate of road accidents. Under the RA President's instruction of December 26, 2005, a working group was set up to examine the experience of several European countries with the aim of developing a set of proposals in the sphere. I.Ishkhanian said that the schedule approved by the President envisages completion of these reforms by June 2007. The set contains proposals regarding the management of the country's motorways, organization of technical examination of transport means and their trailers, granting of driving licences, as well as as the organization of activities of the SAI system. Particularly, it is proposed that the function of technical examination of transport means be given to private companies. In order to reduce corruption risks and re-equip the SAI system technically, it is proposed that the money charged for breach of traffic rules should remain at SAI's disposal and be used for its technical re-equipment and raising the salaries of inspectors.

---