STUDENTS IN THE PARLIAMENT

National Assembly of RA
March 30 2009
Armenia

On March 27 160 students of several schools of Yerevan, Nagorno
Karabakh and Javakhk, members of the International Association of
Lawyers and Psychologists, visited the National Assembly. They met with
the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Defense, National Security
and Internal Affairs Mr. Artur Aghabekyan, Ms. Naira Zohrabyan,
Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture,
Youth and Sport and Mr. Viktor Mnatsakanyan, Chief Adviser to the
President of the National Assembly.

Ms. Zohrabyan conveyed the greetings and best wishes of Mr. Hovik
Abrahamyan, President of the National Assembly of the Republic
of Armenia to those present, noting that the National Assembly
is ready to listen to the views of all layers, to understand their
concerns. Ms. Zobrabyan emphasized that the policy of the President of
the National Assembly is to respond to all the concerns of society. The
parliament is open to the dialogue with society.

She familiarized the students with the structure of the National
Assembly, its political parties, standing committees and the
activities. Ms. Zohrabyan touched upon the draft law, adopted through
the first reading on General Education, also noting the further
legislative amendments to the laws on Advertising, on TV and Radio
etc. In 2008 the National Assembly adopted 297 laws, 30 of which-
basic laws and 267 – amendments. Chairman of the Standing Committee on
Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs Mr. Artur Aghabekyan
touched upon the foreseen amendments to the RA draft law, recently
debated, on Conscription and military issues in general. He informed
the future recruits about the foreseen amendments and refuted the
rumors that the term of service in the army will be 3 years. According
to him there would be no such similar amendments within the forthcoming
10 years. The other amendment, related to the abolition of the
deferment privilege would not be debated before autumn.

The students came to the meeting with prepared speeches, which related
to the negative influence of the broadcast serials the rights of
citizens, the problems of disabled persons, etc.

At the end of the meeting Ms. Naira Zohrabyan, Deputy Chair of the
Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport of
the National Assembly, answered the students’ questions and proposals,
noting that the proposals would be conveyed to the President of the
National Assembly and solutions would be given to them if possible.

Mr. Khachik Mirzoyan, Head of the International Association of Lawyers
and Psychologists, thanked the authority of the National Assembly
for the warm reception. At the end of the meeting the students got
familiarized with the foundation history of the Parliament and reviewed
through the building.