Minister of Agriculture is against Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s proposal (video)
Ignati Arakelyan, Minister of Agriculture hasn’t read Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s proposal to Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan on elimination of extra-budgetary accounts and funds. But he is against the proposal, “The extra-budgetary must exist so that it be possible to develop certain projects.” The first president proposes elimination of extra-budgetary accounts and funds of ministries and other state agencies, as well as local government bodies within the frames of fight against corruption. Ignati Arakelyan cites the scientific-research institutions of the Ministry, “Without extra-budget we won’t able develop science.” Minister of Finance Vardan Aramyan has read the first president’s proposal. He can say that the extra-budgetary funds are managed like other budgetary expenses; the bills are adopted and enter into the process of procurement, “The main corruption risks are mainly expressed in the process of procurement.” Here the Minister of Finance can calm down the first president, what’s more, his proposal is late as the Government already has a law, which is supposed to increase the transparency of procurement, “The same will relate to extra-budgetary means.” Minister of Education Levon Mkrtchyan says that their Ministry doesn’t have extra-budgetary fund, maybe the education system has, “The issue of financial optimization can be discussed.” The service provider may be less costly, if the structure implementing it is professional. By the way, the first president noted that if it isn’t done, all the promises about systemic reforms will remain empty talks.
