On October 22 NA Standing Committees meetings were held.

Gagik Mkheyan, the Chairman NA Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Health Care and Environment presided over the meeting of the Committee. The Committee discussed and endorsed the inclusion of 5 conventions on the agenda of the three-day sittings.

Armenia joined the International Labour Organization, the UN specialized agency, in 1993, which necessitates also its ratification of a number of international conventions.

The Protection of Wages Convention, signed on July 1, 1949 in Geneva presented by Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Ashot Yesayan seeks to protect employees’ rights, regulate wages related issues. This international convention will facilitate resolution of numerous issues related to employees and their wages, the deputy minister said.

If Armenia ratifies Convention concerning labour inspection in industry and commerce adopted by the International Labour Organisation in Geneva on July 11, 1947, apart from its consultative function the labour inspection will be vested with control function as well. The draft law “On State Labour Inspection” is at the elaboration stage. The bill will regulate the activity of the staff of the inspection on the ratification of the Convention, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Ashot Yesayan stated.

“Convention concerning Workmen's Compensation for Occupational Diseases,” signed on June 10, 1925, “Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour” and “Abolition of Forced Labour Convention” were also submitted to the discussion of the Committee.

MP Ararat Mkrtchyan’s application to become a member of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Health Care and Environment was honored and the MP will join the Committee, the chairman Gagik Mkheyan said.

Mher Shahgeldyan, Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Defence, National Security and Internal Affairs, presided over the Committee meeting. The Committee discussed and endorsed the inclusion on the three-day sittings agenda to be submitted to the Parliament’s approval and a protocol “On Approving Regulations on the Order of Organizing and Holding Joint Anti-terrorism Measures on the CIS territory” signed on October 7, 2002 in Chisinau. Karlos Petrossyan, Director of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia adjunct to the RA Government, presented the protocol.

Armen Roustamyan, Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, presided over the Committee meeting. The Committee discussed and endorsed the bill to be included on the agenda of the October 15-17 three-day sittings. The Agreement on establishment of the Council of Presidents of Supreme Arbitrary, Economic and Other Courts, considering cases on economic disputes signed on October 7, 2002 in Chisinau, European Convention on the Transfer of Proceedings in Criminal Matters signed in Strasbourg, on May 15, 1972 (with the Additional protocol). Protocol No. 12 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and agreement within the framework of the Caucasian initiative “On Financial Partnership between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Federal Republic of Germany” signed on April 5, 2004 in Yerevan.

“Protection of Wages Convention,” signed on July 1, 1949 in Geneva, “Convention Concerning labour inspection in industry and commerce” adopted on July 11, 1947, in Geneva, “Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour” signed on June 28, 1930 in Geneva, “Abolition of Forced Labour Convention” signed on June 25, 1957 in Geneva, “Convention concerning Workmen's Compensation for Occupational Diseases,” signed on June 10, 1925 in Geneva will be submitted to the Parliament’s approval during the forthcoming three-day sittings. Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Aghvan Vardanyan presented the aforementioned documents to the Committee.

Karlos Petrossyan, Director of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia adjunct to the RA Government, presented the protocol on approving Regulations on the Order of Organizing and Holding Joint anti-terrorism measures on the CIS territory signed on October 7, 2002 in Chisinau. The protocol was signed seeking to regulate procedures related to holding joint anti-terrorism measures on the CIS territory.

Rafik Petrosyan, Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs, presided over the Committee meeting. The Committee endorsed five international agreements, 6 draft laws that were on the meeting agenda.

The inclusion of the government-submitted third reading of bill “On Acts of Civil Status” on the agenda was postponed for 15 days after a long discussion.

The Committee discussed the bills “RA Family Code,” “RA Labour Code,” “On Application of RA Labor Code,” “On Making an Amendment to the RA Law ‘On Enforcement of Judgments’” and “On Making an Amendment to the RA Law ‘On Ombudsman’.” The speakers stressed that the majority of the recommendations and remarks were taken into consideration.

The Committee discussed the government-submitted bill “On Making Amendments and Additions to the RA Law ‘On Administration Foundations and Administrative Procedure.’”

The Committee also discussed the “Protection of Wages Convention,” “Convention concerning Labour Inspection in industry and commerce,” “Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour,” “Convention concerning Workmen's Compensation for Occupational Diseases.”

The debated matters will be included on the three-days sitting agenda.

MP Arshak Sadoyan proposed to hold parliamentary hearings on the key provisions of the constitutional reform. The Committee approved the motion to hold the hearings following the expert assessment of the Venice Commission.

Gagik Minasyan, Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Financial-Credit, Budgetary and Economic Affairs, presided over the Committee meeting. The Committee endorsed the government-initiated bills “On Amending the RA Laws ‘On Use of Cash Registers’ and ‘On Taxes’” to be submitted to the Parliament for consideration on second reading. The government also submitted the draft law “On Purchases.”

Innovations are expected to be introduced in the system, Atom Janjughazyan, Chief Treasurer-Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy of the Republic of Armenia, said.

The Committee endorsed the introduction of the draft on the three-day sittings and the autumn session.

The next legislative initiative “On Making an Addition to the RA Law ‘On Taxes’” proposes to keep a separate account for “bad” arrears in terms of tax liabilities writing off liabilities not redeemed over 5-year period.

The adoption of the bill “On Legalization of Illegal Income and Fighting Terrorism Financing” presented by the Central Bank Chairman Tigran Sargsyan will enable Armenia to integrate the common network fighting terrorism financing. The bill regulates the issues of data exchange and the CB reserves the right s to fight financing of terrorism. Campaign against terrorism fighting emanates both from the UN requirements and those of international treaties, the CB Chairman said. The CB chief also proposed to amend 6 laws. The Committee endorsed the bills as well.

The Committee endorsed “The 2005 Annual Action Programme for RA Economic Competition Protection Committee” and “2005 Annual Action Programme for RA Public Services Regulating Committee.”