PRESIDENT HOLDS MEETING AT DEFENSE MINISTRY: ‘IT IS TOO BAD THAT I DON’T SEE FIERCE FIGHT AGAINST SUCH PERSONS INSIDE MINISTRY’
Panorama.am
27/09/2012
The President of the Republic of Armenia, Commander-in-Chief of the
RA Armed Forces Serzh Sargsyan conducted a meeting at the Ministry
of Defense of Armenia on September 26 with the participation of the
commanders of the General Staff, headquarters, and military units,
presidential press service reported.
The meeting was dedicated to issues related to the process of
procurement for the needs of the RA Ministry of Defense. The Head of
the Presidential Oversight Service reported on the main findings and
conclusions reached in the course of the examination.
The issue raised in the report was pertaining to the transparency
of the bidding process and assuring a competitive environment. After
presenting a number of factual indicators, the Head of the Oversight
Service noted in his conclusion that in the bidding packages there were
numerous instances when the bidding was conducted by more or less same
individuals. Besides, there have been cases with so called “universal”
organizations which were supplying foodstuff, automobile spare parts,
fuel and lubricant substances and were conducting construction
works. According to the report, the investigation conducted in the
last two years revealed that the list of the suppliers is almost
unchangeable. In the course of the investigation revealed were also
some circumstances which were also influencing the shaping of the
competition environment and transparency of the process.
The second reported issue was pertinent to the market prices for the
goods and similar items procured for the RA Ministry of Defense. It
was noted that the working group on the selective basis looked into
some contracts regarding purchasing certain goods and agreements
signed on their base. It was underscored that upon the Presidential
instructions, in relation to the market prices for the goods purchased
by the Ministry of Defense, after the investigation conducted by the
Presidential Oversight Service in 2011, currently the situation has
somewhat improved and in general the prices of the supplied goods
correspond to the wholesale prices for similar goods. Nevertheless,
according to the conclusions, some of the goods can be purchased at
a lower price. At the same time, the working group established that
not only high prices of the goods can pose some risks but also their
actual quantity and quality.
At the meeting, the next issue under discussion was pertinent to the
organizations related to certain individuals which won biddings and
signed agreements with the RA Ministry of Defense.
The President assessed as impermissible violations at the expense
of the scarce state resource and the troops and strongly criticized
individuals who display such approach. “It is too bad that I don’t see
a fierce fight against such persons inside the Ministry. The Minister
of Defense and the Chief of Staff must be watchful lest the people
who struggle against such occurrences don’t have problems tomorrow
or day after tomorrow,” President Serzh Sargsyan said and underscored
that when a commander of a battalion, a company or a regiment observes
that their superiors protect the people who are honest, the situation
will change and will influence the entire moral and psychological
environment. The Minister of Defense assured the President that from
now on they will be more persistent regarding the works of the Ministry
and according to the Presidential instructions will reinforce control
at all stages of the process of the bidding organization and pricing,
supply of the purchased goods and their handling. “Mr.
President, we will be working on every detail and will do our best
that the RA Ministry of Defense become exemplary in conducting the
procurement,” Seyran Ohanian, the Minister of Defense said.
After the meeting, the President of the Republic of Armenia,
Commander-in-Chief of the RA Armed Forces Serzh Sargsyan conducted
private consultations with the Minister of Defense, Deputy Ministers,
Chief of Staff and their Deputies on issues related to combat readiness
and armaments.
From: A. Papazian