STUDENTS OF YEREVAN KENTRON ADMINISTRATIVE REGION PARTICIPATE IN THE REGULAR OPEN LESSON

parliament.am (National Assembly)
March 17 2010
Armenia

Within the framework of the Open Doors policy of the National Assembly
on March 15 the regular open lesson was held in the parliament, where
the 10th form students of the schools of Yerevan Kentron administrative
region took part this time. The NA Speaker Hovik Abrhamyan held the
open lesson. "It’s very important to take part in the works of the
state from this age, have state way of thinking, see the structure
and problems of the state," addressing the 10th form students said the
Speaker of the Parliament. Hovik Abrahamyan introduced to the students
the structure, functions of the parliament, the powers reserved by
the Constitution. The NA Speaker said that the Open Doors policy is
carried out in the National Assembly, the aim of which is to make the
higher legislative body of the country accessible and transparent for
the people. Speaking about the parliamentary elections and electoral
system the Speaker of the Parliament Hovik Abrahamyan informed the
participants of the open lesson that the RA Electoral Code is in
the phase of reforming. In the nearest future it will be sent to
the Venice Commission for expertise, after which taking into account
all the remarks and proposals, the reformed version of the Code will
be adopted, which supposes that here the elections will be held in
accordance with the European standards. The Parliament Speaker said
that the functioning 12 standing committees in the parliament in
the nearest future will regularly visit the marzes, big and small
settlements of the republic, will get introduced with the problems,
and coming back to the capital will raise the problems before the
responsible persons, joint discussions, parliamentary hearings will
be organized, and as a result of all this, the issues which had
not been solved for years will get public sounding and solution. The
Parliament Speaker also spoke about the Armenian-Turkish relations and
NK problem. Noting that the President of the Republic pursues open,
initiative policy, Mr. Abrahamyan said that after the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border and establishment of diplomatic relations the
economy of Armneia will greatly benefit. Touching upon the settlement
the NK problem Hovik Abrahamyan noted: "The most important thing
for us is the status of NK and the security of NK people." The NA
Speaker noted that the basis of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is
the recognition of the right of the Nagorno Karabakh people and the
execution of that right. Therefore, the issue should be solved within
the limits of reasonableness and truth.

Then the NA Speaker answered the students’ questions. To the question
if our army is efficient the Parliament Speaker answered that the
Armenian Army is the most efficient in the region, but it does not mean
that we shall be pleased with what achieved. We should permanently
develop our military knowledge, have more capable military, be alert
and trained.

One of the participants of the open lesson was interested in complying
our educational system with European standards and when the diplomas
of our higher educational institutions will be recognized in European
countries. Hovik Abrahamyan said that a number of diplomas are
recognized outside the borders of Armenia, and the integration to the
European educational system has already started and it successfully
continues.

Several students participating in the open lesson were interested in
the young diplomats’ work and future. The NA Speaker said that the
diplomats had much do in the foreign policy of the state, it is a
decisive work; therefore the diplomats should be professionals. Hovik
Abrahamyan gave examples of the gradually activating parliamentary
diplomacy, mutual visits, meetings, which only help in the works of
the state.

In the name of the teachers and students the pedagogues accompanying
the children thanked the NA Speaker for the warm reception, expressed
trust that for the juniors standing on the threshold of life the open
lessons like this can be decisive.