Armenian finance minister dismisses audit chamber head’s allegations
03.07.2013,
19:58
YEREVAN, July 3. /ARKA/. Armenia’s finance minister David Sargsyan lashed out today at the head of the parliament Audit Chamber, Ishkhan Zakaryan, for his allegations that 70 percent of the country’s state budget – 701 billion drams (over $1.7 billion) – was exposed to corruption risks. The minister said there are several reasons why the allegations can not be true.
YEREVAN, July 3. /ARKA/. Armenia’s finance minister David Sargsyan lashed out today at the head of the parliament Audit Chamber, Ishkhan Zakaryan, for his allegations that 70 percent of the country’s state budget – 701 billion drams (over $1.7 billion) – was exposed to corruption risks. The minister said there are several reasons why the allegations can not be true.
In a last month report to the National Assembly, Iskhan Zakarian alleged widespread corruption and misuse of funds in the administration of public procurements.
"The procurement plan, which we adopted at the beginning of last year was worth 262 billion drams. To this we must add public procurements administered as part of various loan programs. Overall we had 445 billion drams. Some 130 billion drams of that amount were paid as salaries to school teachers and medical workers. Last year procurements made some 300-310 billion drams,’ the minister said.
"I'm not ready to say today how much of that money was abused , but I am sure that we can not speak even about 20% or 10%. Recorded financial abuses and risks do not exceed several hundred million drams a year," he said.
Speaking at a meeting with top government officials on effective use of the budget last Saturday President Serzh Sargsyan said Ishkhan Zakaryan’s implication that 70 percent of the country’s state budget – 701 billion drams (over $1.7 billion) – was exposed to corruption risks, create a wrong impression among the public. The President said Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan must order heads of government agencies to look into the reported problems and provide public explanations.
Earlier Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan dismissed Zakarian’s report, accusing the oversight body subordinate to the parliament of grossly exaggerating possible financial abuses for political purposes. The prime minister instructed his cabinet members to publicly refute those allegations or ask law-enforcement authorities to investigate them. ($1 – 411.30 drams). -0-
In a last month report to the National Assembly, Iskhan Zakarian alleged widespread corruption and misuse of funds in the administration of public procurements.
"The procurement plan, which we adopted at the beginning of last year was worth 262 billion drams. To this we must add public procurements administered as part of various loan programs. Overall we had 445 billion drams. Some 130 billion drams of that amount were paid as salaries to school teachers and medical workers. Last year procurements made some 300-310 billion drams,’ the minister said.
"I'm not ready to say today how much of that money was abused , but I am sure that we can not speak even about 20% or 10%. Recorded financial abuses and risks do not exceed several hundred million drams a year," he said.
Speaking at a meeting with top government officials on effective use of the budget last Saturday President Serzh Sargsyan said Ishkhan Zakaryan’s implication that 70 percent of the country’s state budget – 701 billion drams (over $1.7 billion) – was exposed to corruption risks, create a wrong impression among the public. The President said Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan must order heads of government agencies to look into the reported problems and provide public explanations.
Earlier Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan dismissed Zakarian’s report, accusing the oversight body subordinate to the parliament of grossly exaggerating possible financial abuses for political purposes. The prime minister instructed his cabinet members to publicly refute those allegations or ask law-enforcement authorities to investigate them. ($1 – 411.30 drams). -0-
