According to the decision of Tigran Sargsyan, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Hakob Beglaryan was dismissed from the office of the head of the Center for Support in Purchases nonprofit state organization today. Meanwhile at the Cabinet meeting,
it was decided to dismiss officials of the Center for Support in Purchases – from head of subdivisions to directors and deputies – at the instigation of Vache Gabrielyan, the Minister of Finance. www.aravot.am inquired of Mikayel Melkumyan, a PAP member and the chairman of the economic affairs standing committee of the National Assembly, whether the corruption in the field of public purchases would be eliminated. “There should be a systemic change. So if something in the purchasing process is done incorrectly, it is a part of the market’s imperfection. So this is not only about rules of procedure and standards, but also the status quo in the market. So if they appropriate large amounts for a certain field and the market accepts it, it means that there is a new result in the market, which is not appropriate for a free market economy, but the market accepts them. I think that there might be some improvements by changing individuals, but systemic solutions are needed, the competition should be improved, in order that there is a free competition,” the PAP member expressed this opinion.
According to him, if the whole system is sick and the public purchases are a small part of that sick system, healing only the field of purchases will not change anything, “For example, the law allows holding contests, but the way that contest is organized is not in line with the market.”
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Mr. Melkumyan offered his solution to the problems in the field of public purchases, “I think they should entrust the field of public purchases to a professional and internationally reputed operator and the state shouldn’t participate in the purchasing process.”
Nelly BABAYAN
