RA NA IN FIRST READING ADOPTS BILL ON MAKING AMENDMENTS AND ADDENDA TO ITS REGULATIONS

Noyan Tapan

Ju ne 10, 2008

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, NOYAN TAPAN. On June 10, the RA National Assembly
with 72 votes "for," 1 "against," 6 "abstained" in the first
reading adopted a bill authored by representatives of the political
coalition, which envisages making amendments and addenda to the NA
Regulations. The bill’s goal is to raise the role of the parliamentary
opposition and to ensure guarantees for the latter’s activity. Deputy
Hakob Hakobian elected from Gegharkunik was the only deputy to vote
"against." During the discussion of the bill the day before the latter
spoke for expansion of opposition’s rights mentioning that the extent
of each political force’s role is determined by the results of the
elections. The members of the Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction and
independent deputy Viktor Dallakian were abstained.

A bill authored by the government envisaging making addenda to
the law On Approving Annual and Complex Programs of Restoration,
Preservation, Reproduction, and Use of Lake Sevan’s Ecosystem was
adopted in the second reading and completely. According to the bill,
it is envisaged in 2008 to establish the maximum annual volume of
water outlet from Lake Sevan for the purpose of irrigation to the
amount of 240 million cubic meters against current 170 million cubic
meters. In the bill adopted in the first reading that volume was
established to 285 million cubic meters, but was reconsidered on the
basis of many deputies’ proposals. The change of the volume will be
recognized invalid on December 1 of the current year.

Besides, the bill also stipulates that the state empowered structure of
water systems management is to introduce an account to the government
once every ten days on volume of water exceeding 170 million cubic
meters let out from Lake Sevan. The Expert Commission of Lake Sevan
Preservation of the RA National Academy of Sciences, in its turn,
will conduct expert studies, the results of which will submit to the
RA government and NA.

The parliament in the third reading and completely adopted the bills On
Alcoholic Drinks Made of Grape Raw Materials, On Fodder, On Ownership
of Members of Apartment Cooperatives with Invalid Founding Documents,
On the Status of Private Houses Having no Documents Confirming Rights
in the Town of Yerevan, On Firm Names and the legislative package On
Inventions, Useful Models, and Industrial Samples. The last two will
come in force from January 1, 2009. The law On Firm Names adopted in
1999 will be recognized invalid then.