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On May 22 the National Assembly continued the work.

By the proposal of the NA President Hovik Abrahamyan the deputies welcomed the teachers and the pupils from Yerevan and Armavir schools involved in the program “The Youth Involved in the Society” Jinishian Memorial Foundation, who were attending the NA sitting within the framework of the NA Open Doors.

The parliament did not pass by voting the bill “On Amending the RA Electoral Code” authored by the deputies of the Heritage faction Rubik Hakobyan, Zaruhi Postanjyan and Tevan Poghosyan.

Then the debate of the Government programme continued.

The submitted document were assessed by the deputies and political forces represented in the parliament. Maragrit Yesayan’s evaluation on the upcoming 5-year programme was positive. The deputy Edmon Marukyan noticed that this programme was better by its structure, but did not correspond to the questions “how” and “when.” According to Aghvan Vardanyan, the document under the debate repeats the programme of the previous years: it won’t promote the development of the state and won’t provide the RA citizen’s welfare. In his speech Hovhannes Margaryan noted that the considerable part of the provisions of the pre-electoral programme of the Rule of Law Party was included in the submitted programme. Khachik Harutyunyan expressed his positive opinion on the programme. In Khosrov Harutyunyan’s opinion, this programme would enjoy the positive assessment of the society. Artashes Geghamyan welcomed the reforms designed in the social-economic sphere enshrined in the programme. Hakob Hakobyan noted that rise of minimal salary, reduction of poverty and creation of new jobs were designed. According to Vardan Ayvazyan, the programme is a political document and because of that political assessments are given to the programme. Artak Zakaryan deemed natural the plurality of the debates on the programme. Koryun Nahapetyan noticed that the pre-electoral promises were also affirmed in the programme.

In his extraordinary speech the NA Vice President Edward Sharmazanov has touched upon the deputies’ speeches and has noted that in any country the opposition criticizes the Government and its programme, however the opposition should be able to propose a programme.

The RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan and the Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan delivered speeches.

Rubik Hakobyan presented the view of the Heritage faction and said that the faction would vote against it.

The member of the ARF faction Vahan Hovhannisyan presented the negative view of the faction.

Heghine Bisharyan presented the view of the Rule of Law faction and recorded their endorsement on the Government programme.

Levon Zurabyan presented the negative view of the Armenian National Congress faction, noting that this programme also would not prevent the continuing emigration and reduce the poverty.

The debate of the programme will continue at May 23 sitting. At the last hour of the sitting, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, the deputies addressed questions to the members of the Government.