THE FIRST SESSION STARTED

Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
16 Sept 05

On September 14 the first meeting in the autumn session of the NKR
National Assembly took place. The meeting was conducted by Speaker
Ashot Ghulian. The parliament decided to place the members of
parliament Garik Grigorian, Ararat Danielian and Romela Dadayan in
charge of the counting commission. During the discussion of the agenda
the parliamentary faction Hayrenik proposed to discuss the election of
chairman of the Audit Chamber of the National Assembly. The speaker
said the question had not been on the agenda because it was not ready
for discussion yet and would probably be presented at the next
meeting. Meeting the request of the faction, the speaker announced
five minutes break. After the break the members of the faction
continued to insist on their point. The proposal was put to vote but
did not receive a sufficient number of votes. The members of
parliament confirmed the agenda of the meeting and the legislative
programme of the session. Then the chairman of the Central Election
Committee Sergey Nasibian presented the message of the NKR Central
Election Committee on the June 19, 2005 election to the National
Assembly of NKR. The minister of economy and finance Spartak Tevossian
presented the annual report on NKR State Budget 2004 and the message
on the budget performance in the first half of 2005, as well as the
annual report on implementation of the 2004-2006 programme of
privatization, which were confirmed by the National Assembly. The
National Assembly also approved the amendments to the NKR law on
lump-sum tax which were enacted. The National Assembly discussed the
package of tax documents including the amendments to the NKR law on
the use of cash machines, the amendments to the law on taxes, the NKR
law on profit tax and the NKR law on lump-sum tax. The vice chief of
the NKR State Tax Agency under the NKR government Levon Voskanian
presented messages and comments on the bills. Taking into
consideration the approval of the standing committee on finance,
budget and economic management, the parliament adopted the amendments
to the law on taxes and enacted the other bills. The vice minister of
social security Emma Gabrielian gave explanations on the amendments to
the NKR law on social security of children devoid of parental
care. The chairman of the standing committee on social security Arpat
Avanessian said the committee approved the amendments. The amendments
were adopted. By the proposal of the government the bills of
amendments to the law on lump-sum tax on petrol and diesel fuel, the
law on lump-sum tax and the law on tax on trade were withdrawn from
the agenda. The National Assembly adopted the bills on consular
service, diplomatic service and international agreements presented by
the foreign minister of NKR Arman Melikian. The last bill discussed by
the parliament on September 14 referred to the legislative regulation
of archiving. The head of the department of archiving under the NKR
government Albert Ghazarian presented the message on the bill. The
standing committee of production and industrial infrastructures
approved the bill and the law was adopted. At the request of the
Ministry of Justice the National Assembly passed the interpretation of
the NKR law on internees, presented by the chairman of the standing
committee on state and legal matters Youri Hayrapetian. Article 1,
section 2 of the law maintains that a person is detained if their
arrest on criminal charges is a means of deterrence. In accordance
with the bylaws of the National Assembly the members of government
answered the questions of the members of parliament. The questions
referred to different spheres of social and economic life of the
country. In the end Vice Speaker Rudik Hyusnunts presented a
statement asserting that election corresponding to the international
standards was held, which brings us closer to democracy. He pointed
out that it is a serious political capital necessary for effective
legislative work for everyone independent of the political camp one
belongs to.

NKR NA.
16-09-2005