At September 13 National Assembly sitting the debates on amendments to the Rules of Procedures of the National Assembly were continued.

The MP Mr. Hmayak Hovhannisyan presenting his point of view regarding the issue noted that the Law on the NA Rules of Procedure has to ensure the increase of effectiveness of the NA activity - having been neither a stamping machine nor an adjacent body of the executive power, but the counterbalance of the executive body. He highlighted the broadcast by the Public TV, the MPs inquiries, declarations and question-and-answer sessions with the Government. According to the MP Mr. Shavarsh Kocharyan, the constitutional reforms created an opportunity to move the political center into Parliament. Touching upon the broadcast of the NA inquiries, declarations and question-and-answer sessions with the Government Mr. Zakaryan noted that the problem might be solved by the RA Constitution. The MP Mr. Vahram Baghdasaryan evaluated the ULP faction submitted draft as Rules of Procedure of future, taking into account the status of the Armenian parliamentarism. Mr. Bagdasaryan considers the effectiveness of the convocation of three-day sittings once per two weeks. He also touched upon the right of an MP to have an aide, considering this as an important stimulus for the increase of the effectiveness of MP’s activity. The MP Mr. Viktor Dallakyan estimated the Law on the NA Rules of Procedure as Constitution of the National Assembly, which is in need of reforms. According to Mr. Dallakyan, the parliamentarian minority should have guarantees enshrined by the Law, up to the highlighting in the Rules of Procedure a provision of including the minority representatives into the NA Leadership. ”The insurance of the NA Staff quality, the holding of free and fair elections in Armenia is important, and not the mechanisms of sittings’ convocation” says Mr. V. Dallakyan. In his turn the MP, Mr. Manuk Gasparyan highlighted the mutual agreement among political forces and the presentation of unified draft. Mr. Gasparyan is also in favor of the convocation of three-day sittings once per two weeks. The MP Mr. Hovhannes Margaryan touched upon the broadcast of inquiries, declarations and question-and-answer sessions with the Government, which will give an opportunity to receive objective information from the Parliament. Mr. Aram Gaspar Sargsyan believes that the NA Rules of Procedure should give an opportunity to the NA President or the presiding Chairman of the sitting to make remarks to the Government representative for not fully responding to MP’s inquiry. According to his characterization, the Parliament is not a subject of the Government: it should control the activity of the executive power. The MP Mr. Sukias Avetisyan does not think appropriate the convocation of three-day sittings once per two weeks. He also highlighted the organization of voting - right after the issue debates. He also considered it necessary to touch upon the issues of MP status. Talking about the perspectives of the Parliament development, the MP Mr. Mher Shahgeldyan assured that the democracy establishment in accordance with international standards in Armenia is not possible without development of parliamentarism. He touched upon the issue of initiating and organizing events by factions and MPs. According to him, the Parliament must be open, public and transparent structure. Mr. Shahgeldyan informed that the question was raised during the meeting with people: the citizens need information. The MP Mr. Mkrtich Minasyan thinks, that mechanisms fostering the effectiveness of committees’ activities should be developed, which will promote also the increase of the parliament’s role in the society. According to Mrs. Hranush Hakobyan, the system amendments of the Law on Rules of Procedure are directed towards the increase of effectiveness of parliament activity. Mrs. Hakobyan mentioned that it would be correct to define additional payment to the MPs participating in the Parliament activity. She thinks it appropriate to have not 12 but 9 committees in the next parliament. It is not defined by the Constitution amendments to have 12 committees, but it is mentioned that it may have up to 12 committees. And Mrs. Hakobyan believes, 9 committees are the optimal variant, which will give opportunity to fully debate drafts.

The MPs also touched upon the issues of MPs’ behavior, status, rights, organization of sittings, MPs’ absence.

Mr. Gurgen Arsenyan, Head of ULP faction, sounded the view of the faction. He assured that the ULP faction was guided by its value system and world outlook, while developing the draft. According to Mr. Arsenyan, executive mechanisms are envisaged by the procedural amendments for the establishment of multi polar power in Armenia.

Mr. Mekhak Mkhitarian, the Secretary of Entrepreneur Deputy Group, sounded the view of the group. According to him, the purpose of procedural amendments is the increase of the Parliament and MPs’ rating. Evaluating main proposed provisions in two drafts, Mr. Mkhitarian highlighted the proposal of the united variant of the draft on Rules of Procedure. The Entrepreneur deputy group will vote in favor of this.

Mr. Grigor Harutyunyan, the Secretary of Justice faction, presented the view of the faction. He believes that the ULP faction submitted the draft and the elaborated proposals by mutual consent of parliamentary political forces cannot be alternative. Referring to the increase of the rating of the National Assembly, Mr. Harurtyunyan noted that fair and transparent elections are required to gain the authority.

The debates on the issue will be continued at September 14 sitting.

According to the NA Rules of Procedure, the last sitting was devoted to MPs-Government question-answer session.