FORMATION OF RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEES COMPLETED

YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The new Armenian government is likely to
submit the program of its activities to the National Assembly on June
25, the RA National Assembly speaker Tigran Torosian said at the June
22 press conference.

According to him, the formation of the NA standing committees was
eventually completed the day before, with 12-15 deputies being included
in each of the 9 standing committees. The NA delegations in
international organizations have not been formed yet. Taking this fact
into account, it was decided to send the deputies – members of the
previous convocation NA’s delegations in PACE and OSCE PA for
participation in the work of the PACE to start on June 25 and the work
of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to start in late July.

The chairman of the NA Standing Committee of Foreign Relations, ARF
faction member Armen Rustamian and RPA faction member Hermine
Naghdalian have already left for Strasbourg in order to participate in
the work of the PACE. In T. Torosian’s words, the PACE Bureau’s report
to be presented at the summer session will contain a section on the May
12 parliamentary elections in Armenia but it is envisaged to hold a
discussion without adopting a resolution.

The head of the previos NA delegation in the OSCE PA, vice speaker of
the parliament, ARF faction member Vahan Hovhannisian, and probably RPA
faction member Samvel Nikoyan will participate in the work of the OSCE
PA.

T. Torosian who headed the previous NA delegation in PACE, said that it
is an important international organization for Armenia. Although
another deputy will head the delegation to be formed soon, the NA
speaker will keep this deputy in the center of his attention and assist
him.

T. Torosian stated that as previously, the parliament’s work will be
open to reporters. In his words, the new building behind the main NA
building, which is being constructed and will be put into operation in
the summer of 2008, will improve the working conditions of both
deputies and reporters. The autumn session to start in September 2008
will be held in the reconstructed hall of sittings.