Azerbaijan’s lobbyist in EP Adrian Severin accused of corruptionMarch 25, 2011 - 17:28 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Parliament has opened an investigation into allegations that three senior MEPs - all former government ministers - have accepted bribes in return for tabling amendments in the chamber intended to water down legislation regulating the financial industry. The chamber's leadership launched an inquiry into the suggestions made in an eight-month Sunday Times sting operation by the paper's Insight investigative journalism team that three MEPs, former Austrian interior minister Ernst Strasser, Romanian former deputy prime minister Adrian Severin – Azerbaijan’s lobbyist in the European Parliament, and former Slovenian foreign minister Zoran Thaler, had accepted bribes of up to €100,000 for tabling the motions. In the case of Severin, the MEP emailed the Sunday Times reporters, writing: "Just to let you know that the amendment desired by you has been tabled in due time," and submitted an invoice for €12,000. Although Centre-right MEP Strasser initially claimed that he had known all along that the lobbyists were actually reporters, he resigned his position on Sunday after the head of the Austrian People's Party called for him to step down. The other two deputies, members of the parliament's centre-left grouping, the Socialists and Democrats, have been called in for a dressing down by the leader of the S&D, Martin Schulz. Calling the allegations as "extremely serious" Schulz said in a statement that if the allegations were confirmed, he said, he would take appropriate and necessary measures. Transparency and development campaigners immediately called for an investigation into the links between financial lobbyists and lawmakers, euobserver.com reported. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Power of One Dram sums up two-year program with Teach for Armenia Idram Junior also joined the companies during the visit, bringing with it a fascinating intellectual game for children Moscow slams EU mission in Armenia for “provocative activity” The EU mission is doing more and more against Armenia’s neighbors Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, Mikhail Galuzin said. Yerevan Mayor to travel to Paris on May 15-19 The official delegation headed by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan will travel to Paris from May 15 to 19. Armenia, India hold first defense consultations The meeting was attended by Indian Ambassador Nilakshi Saha Sinha and Defense Attaché Brigadier General Naveen Nijhawan. |