Armenian labor ministry admits Audit Chamber revealed abuses in administration of public procurements
03.07.2013,
17:19
YEREVAN, July 3. / ARKA /. Armenian labor and social affairs minister Artem Asatrian admitted today that the parliament Audit Chamber had revealed abuses in the administration of pubic procurements for round the clock centers set up to take care of children and elderly citizens.
YEREVAN, July 3. / ARKA /. Armenian labor and social affairs minister Artem Asatrian admitted today that the parliament Audit Chamber had revealed abuses in the administration of pubic procurements for round the clock centers set up to take care of children and elderly citizens.
The minister said all those responsible for these abuses were subjected to disciplinary punishment. According to Asatrian, these abuses did not entail financial consequences for the budge. He recalled that the Audit Chamber had looked into the process of pensions and benefits payments and the situation at round the clock care centers. He said the Audit Chamber concluded that in 2012 the Ministry of Labor had conducted significant work to improve the situation in these areas.
The head of the Audit Chamber, Ishkhan Zakarian, alleged last month widespread corruption in the administration of public procurements when he addressed the National Assembly. But speaking at a meeting with top government officials on effective use of the budget last Saturday President Serzh Sargsyan questioned 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.
Such allegations, according to President Sargsyan, 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. -0-
The minister said all those responsible for these abuses were subjected to disciplinary punishment. According to Asatrian, these abuses did not entail financial consequences for the budge. He recalled that the Audit Chamber had looked into the process of pensions and benefits payments and the situation at round the clock care centers. He said the Audit Chamber concluded that in 2012 the Ministry of Labor had conducted significant work to improve the situation in these areas.
The head of the Audit Chamber, Ishkhan Zakarian, alleged last month widespread corruption in the administration of public procurements when he addressed the National Assembly. But speaking at a meeting with top government officials on effective use of the budget last Saturday President Serzh Sargsyan questioned 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.
Such allegations, according to President Sargsyan, 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. -0-
