PARLIAMENT AGAIN RUINS ADOPTION OF DRAFT ON NATURAL PERSONS’ PROPERTY AND INCOMES DECLARATION

Noyan Tapan
May 31 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The special sitting of the RA National
Assembly that was convened on the initiative of more than 5 dozens
of deputies, started on May 31. There are about 50 issues on the
agenda, including elections for vacant posts of the National Assembly
Speaker and Chairmen of two of the NA Standing Committees. According
to preliminary data, discussion of the issue on elections is scheduled
for June 1. 11 draft laws and legislative packages and 8 international
agreements discussed during the previous four-days sittings are on the
agenda. All those were adopted, except the legislative law “On Making
Amendments to the RA Laws “On Natural Persons’ Property and Incomes
Declaration” and “On Income Tax” discussed in the second reading and
the draft “On Making Amendments and Additions to the Criminal Code”
discussed in the first reading by which punishments are envisaged for
spitefully avoiding taxes, duties and other compulsory payments. The
discussion of the above-mentioned drafts failed as the necessary number
of deputies, at least 66 ones, did not participate in the votion. We
must mention that their adoption at the Parliament is correspondigly
failed for the third and second time. The first package this time got
at least 54 “for” and one “against” and one “abstaining” votes. The
“Orinats Yerkir” (Country of Law), “Ardaroutiun” (Justice), “Azgayin
Miabanutiun” (National Unity) factions, “People’s Deputy” group as
well as some deputies from the “RPA” faction did not participate
in the votion. 46 deputies were for the second draft, without no
“against” and “abstaining” votes.

Besides the above-mentioned unions, 3 of the “ARF” 4 non-partizan
members did not participate in the votion of this draft.