SEMINAR "PUBLIC INTERNAL FINANCIAL CONTROL IN THE EU AND ARMENIA" HELD IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
June 9, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The seminar "Public Internal Financial
Control (PIFC) in the EU and Armenia" was held in Yerevan on June 9
on the initiative of RA Ministry of Finance and the Budget Department
of the European Commission. Officials and experts of the European
Commission, as well as the Head of the European Commission Delegation
in Armenia, Ambassador Raul de Lutzenberger took part in the seminar.

The EU member states’ experience in PIFC and proposals on further
improvement of PIFC in Armenia were presented at the seminar.

The Head of the Budget Implementation Methodology Department of RA
Ministry of Finance Karen Brutian said that PIFC is an integrated
model that has been developed by the European Commission for creation
of internal control systems in the state sector which are in line
with international standards.

In his words, the introduction of such a system was envisaged by the
Armenian government’s activity program. The purpose of the system
is to have such a mechanism of spending state financial resources,
expenditure control and audit that will enable the state to fulfil
its obligations more efficiently. "This event was also envisaged
by Armenia-EU Neighborhood Action Plan, which shows the political
significance of the event," K. Brutian said.

Commenting on the Armenian government’s initiative on reforms of this
system, the Head of the European Commission PIFC Department Robert
Gielisse stated that they encourage and assist the reforms planned
by Armenia.