CBA PROPOSES INTRODUCING GREATER RESPONSIBILITY WITH RESPECT TO THOSE WHO VIOLATE REQUIREMENTS OF CURRENCY LEGISLATION

Noyan Tapan

M arch 17, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA National Assembly on March 17
passed the bills and legislative packages discussed the day before. The
bills and packages envisage amendments and additions to a number of
laws and codes.

In particular, the parliament passed in first reading the package
of the government-proposed amendments to the RA Criminal Code, the
RA Code on Administrative Infractions, and the RA Law on Currency
Exchange Regulation and Control. According to the chairman of the
Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) Arthur Javadian, the purpose of the
package is to fight dollarization and the shadow economy. Based on
it, it is proposed introducing greater responsibility with respect
to those who violate the requirements of the currency legislation.

The main speaker, first deputy minister of justice Gevorg Malkhasian
said that the amendments (passed in first reading) to the Law on State
Registration of Property Rights are conditioned by the necessity to
ensure a single approach in the state service system. In particular, it
is proposed that the provisions stipulating the grounds for appointment
and dismissal of heads of the State Cadastre of Real Estate and its
territorial units be recognized as invalid in order to eliminate the
possible contradictions with the RA Law on Civil Service. By the
current law, citizens under 60 years with higher education can be
appointed to these positions, whereas by the law on civil service,
persons under 65 can be appointed to positions of the civil service.

The only opposition faction – "Heritage" voted against the bill. The
faction head Armen Martirosian told NT correspondent that personally he
is in favor of eliminating age restrictions in those bodies where no
problems of special responsibility arise, but he is against "taloring
a law for a person". He explained that according to the circulating
rumors which were published in the press, the president of the country
wants to appoint former mayor of Yerevan Yervand Zakarian as chairman
of the State Committee of Cadastre, but the age restriction prevents
him from doing so.