National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Feb 22 2007

Five Dozen Issues on the Agenda of the Special Session

On February 20 on the initiative of the Government of the Republic of
Armenia, the National Assembly convened a special session, the agenda
of which comprised more than five dozen issues.

The parliament by voting adopted four legislative packages,
discussed during the first four-day sittings of the spring session,
as well as the draft law of amendments and addenda to the law on the
RA Citizenship.

After that the agenda issues introduced by the government were
discussed.

Making amendments and addenda to the law on Local Self-Government,
the executive power transferred the provision of the road traffic
security to the local self-government bodies, increasing the latter’s
authorities.

Mr. Suren Gharayan, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy informed
that the government intends to invest criteria for the extension of
the terms for the goods to be drawn down on customs temporary
regimes. In the opinion of Mr. Gagik Minasyan, Chairman of the
Standing Committee on Financial-Credit, Budgetary and Economic
Affairs, in the result of this event equal conditions will be
created for the economic entities. In his words this is the next step
directed to improve customs legislation. The Committee has endorsed
the draft law. The Deputy Minister introduced to the MPs the
suggestion of making amendments to the law on the Control Chamber.

Highlighting the Chamber’s activities publicity, Mr. Gagik Minasyan,
Chairman of the committee finds that during a year problems often
rise and cause necessity of operative action. As to him, the
publicity can be provided by parliamentary debates, as well as by the
help of mass media.

The government proposes the parliament to make amendments to the law
on the Protection of Economic Competition and the laws on Organizing
and Holding Check-ups in the Republic of Armenia. If the draft law is
adopted, the talks about not having the chance to prevent levers and
abuse sounded on the committee of the protection of economic
competition will stop.

The government’s proposal to make amendments and addenda to the law
on Judicial Service concerns the mechanisms of conferring higher
degrees in this structure of state services and determining necessary
conditions for some specialists. Mr. David Harutyunyan, Justice
Minister introduced the issue. Making amendments to the law on Funds,
the government clarifies the classification of fund expenditures, the
duties and rights of the council of trusties, as well the order of
introducing accounts of the fund.

According Mr. Gevorg Malkhasyan, Deputy Justice Minister, the
necessity of making amendments and addenda to the laws on Television
and Radio and on the Regulations of the National Committee on
Television and Radio stems from constitutional amendments.

By the legislative package on Licensing the Government reduces the
list of kinds of activities subject to licensing, removing a number
of fields.

Mr. Aghvan Vardanyan, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs introduced
the legislative package of the amendments to the law on Social
Security Cards.

For the adoption in the second reading the MPs were introduced the
draft laws on Coming into Force of the Judicial Code of the Republic
of Armenia, on Prosecutor’s Office (55th article in the first
reading), on Aviation, On Establishment of Tax Privileges Towards the
Construction Works of Meghri-Kajaran pipeline and the draft laws on
the amendments and addenda to the laws on RA International Treaties,
on Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, On Road Trafficking
Security, On Body Regulating the Public Services, aswell as the draft
laws on making amendments and addenda to the RA Criminal Procedure
Code, RA Civil Code and the RA Judicial Code to adopt in the third
reading.

The special session will continue on February 21.