On June 26 the parliament continued the first session of the National Assembly of the fourth convocation for the discussion of the government program activity. As Mr. Tigran Torosyan, President of the National Assembly noted the first session of the fourth convocation of the parliament, started on June 7, was not completed, as the last issue of the agenda on approving the government’s program was not exhausted. Due to the order stipulated by law, the executive body in 20-day term presented the program to the parliament on June 25. According to the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, the issue of approving the government program is put on voting in five-day term after its presentation.

Mr. Serzh Sargsyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia presented the main priorities and directions in the legislative body of the activity of the government for forthcoming 5 years. The program was developed on the basis of the provisions of the Strategy of the National Security of the Republic of Armenia and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Program and includes separate provisions of pre-electoral programs of the President of the Republic, RPA, PAP and ARF factions. According to Mr. Serzh Sargsyan, for the upcoming years, one of the priorities of the government will be the provision of the national security and sustainable development. According to the Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan, corruption, shadow economy, unequal conditions of the competition are issues, the solution of which are in the sphere of efficient management. On the list of the planned priorities is the investment of the concept of state-private partnership. Within that framework the executive authority intends to develop and implement the national and local important programs through cooperation with the private sector. In the words of the Prime Minister, also an appropriate attention will be attached to the problem of the balanced development of the territories for liquidation of the break between the capital and other communities. In the program of the government a special place is given to the social security of the citizen of the Republics of Armenia, the amount of the pension in one and a half time will exceed the threshold of poverty.

The Prime Minister also spoke about the results, expected from the activity of the government in 2007-2012.

After the speeches of the deputies the political forces of the parliament presented views about the program of the government.

Mr. Raffi Hovannisyan, the head of Zharangutyun (Heritage) faction in the program of the government sees strong sides as well as declarative provisions. According to the head of the faction, the program presents a range of wishes, which is however far away from the reality, and it requires editing according to Mr. Raffi Hovannisyan. The faction is against this version of the program.

The faction Country of Law abstained, not wishing to express negative position at the newly elected parliament in the first voting. The head of the faction Mr. Artur Bagdasaryan declared about this. The faction is being prepared to solve the issues they are interested in through practical questions and concrete proposals.

The ARF faction is for the debated document the head of the faction Mr. Hrayr Karapetyan said. He noted that a great number of their proposals are included in the program of the government. The ARF faction considers that the new program of combating corruption should be adopted, the shadow economy should be reduced and more places should be given to the taxes in GDP.

The view of the faction PAP was presented by the secretary of the faction Mr. Aram Safaryan. According to him, the program of the government is understandable for the people, and the faction is for the document.

Mr. Gagik Minasyan on behalf of the faction RPA protected the principles of the program of the government.

In the special speech the Vice President of the National Assembly Mr. Vahan Hovhannesyan noted that for the first time the government program proceeds from the concept of the national security. This is interconnected, and the shortcomings occur in the result, says the Vice President He has already concluded that the concept of the national security needs revision. As issues of importance and concern the Vice president pointed out the policy of the use of water resources, archeology and excavations, as well as the issues of Diaspora. The problem of repatriation, which was the basic purpose of granting the opportunity of dual citizenship by the law, today is ignored, noticed Mr. Vahan Hovhannesyan.

Mr. Tigran Torosyan, President of the National Assembly, in his special speech touched upon the estimation that the program of the government does not correspond to the reality. Mr. Torosyan noted that the program of the government is a political document where the very problems should be reflected that are seen by the government. The program should correspond to our notions of the development of the country, said the President of the National Assembly and added that it should include the problems, goals and means. Other details are reflected in the budget. The President of the parliament believes, that there was no “collision of programs and ideas” during this debate as Mr. Arthur Bagdasaryan had estimated, because it took place earlier, during the elections. And opposition colleagues, who have doubts about the results of the elections, he conveyed the high estimation of the parliamentary elections in Armenia given by PACE. Mr. Torosyan noted, that this program is an exclusive one with qualitatively new approaches. However it does not mean belittling the previous ones - the submitted program is the logical continuation of the process begun. For the first time the parliament should approve the program of the government by voting. Mr. Tigran Torosyan is convinced, that the constitutional reforms will make us the witnesses of these and other new realities. The President of the National Assembly emphasized the three basic goals of the program: a security provision, versatile development of each member of the society, satisfaction of the minimal needs of the citizens having the right of social security. Mr. Torosyan noticed that the development and realization of human potential is emphasized in the program. This program of the government creates an opportunity of a worthy life for people, said the head of the legislative body.

The Prime Minister of the republic in his concluding speech touched upon the deputies’ speeches, responding the criticism and proposals. Once again he approved that the program had a real base and was based on the experience of the previous years. He also considered feasible the beginning of the reforms of the second generation.

The parliament approved the government program by the correlation of 94 votes for and 7 votes against.