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On July 15, the RA National Assembly convened an extraordinary session on the initiative of the deputies of the RA NA My Step Faction by the initiator’s established agenda.

Before turning to the legislative work, by the proposal of the NA Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan, the deputies hold in a minute’s silence to pay tribute to the memory of the four Armenian servicemen, who died for the defense of the Motherland because of provocative actions unleashed by Azerbaijan.

By the decision of the parliament, the debate of the bills included in the agenda in the second reading will be held after passing them in the first reading within twenty-four hours.

The RA NA deputy Vahagn Hovakimyan presented for his colleagues’ debate in the first reading the draft law on Making Addenda to the Constitutional Law the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly authored by Vladimir Vardanyan, Anna Karapetyan, Hayk Gevorgyan and him.

According to the authors, the COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges for the activities of the parliament, and a situation can be emerged that part of the MPs will not have an opportunity to physically take part in the works of the parliament, and will be deprived of the opportunity to vote.

The authors propose to give an opportunity to the deputies being temporarily in an invalid situation to send their voting to the Chairs of the NA Committees on the issues under debate at the Committee, and to the NA Speaker on the voting held at the sittings of the Council or the National Assembly.

In his co-speech, the RA Deputy Minister of Justice Vahe Danielyan touched upon the international experience and presented some recommendations.

During the exchange of ideas the MPs made recommendations and remarks, urging the authors to more specify the initiative, as well as to make amendments in the sub-legislative acts. Some of the MPs considered inadmissible the work style of voting in written form, substantiating that the executive body would take part in the debate of the item for having distinct position.

The Chair of the RA NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs Vladimir Vardanyan informed that the draft law had not been debated at the sitting of the Committee held the day before, as the legislative term of presenting for debate the item at the Committee had not been up yet. The co-author noted that the draft law would exclusively relate to the emergency situations conditioned by the state of emergency. According to him, the goal is to ensure the regular activity of the parliament, and the draft law refers to the MPs, who received exclusively to get isolated.

Karen Simonyan presented the viewpoint of the RA NA Bright Armenia Faction. He urged the authors of the draft law to show fuller approach and present more voluminous bill in order the parliament could implement its regular work in the conditions of martial law and state of emergency.

Shake Isayan expressed the position of the RA NA Prosperous Armenia Faction, noting a number of remarks. She has opined that the draft law opposes the provisions of the RA Labor legislation, as well as it does not appear from the bill that it is genuinely directed exclusively to the period of COVID-19 pandemic.

Vladimir Vardanyan took the floor on behalf of the RA NA My Step Faction. According to him, it is necessary to find solutions in the created situation in order the deputies can fully carry out their powers and vote. The co-author of the draft law has expressed doubt that the factions being against it has not submitted any recommendation in the event, when the draft law is at the phase of the recommendation in the written form.

Afterwards the legislative package on Making Addendum to the Constitutional Law the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly and on Amending the Law on Corruption Prevention Committee has been debated in the first reading. It relates to the item of the formation of the Competitive Council being formed for the election of the candidates in the post of the member of the Corruption Prevention Committee.

Sisak Gabrielyan presented the endorsement of the RA NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs and proposed to vote for the package.

In his co-report, the RA Deputy Minister of Justice Srbuhi Galyan has noted that the initiative is aimed at the solution of the technical problem, as a result of which, it will be possible to form a relevant Competitive Council, which will undertake the organization of the election of the Committee member. Nevertheless, on behalf of the executive body Srbuhi Galyan expressed readiness to debate it during the period from the first to the second reading and choose a version acceptable for everybody.

The representatives of the RA Factions presented their viewpoints on the item.

The Head of the RA NA Bright Armenia Faction Edmon Marukyan delivered a speech on behalf of the Faction. He has proposed to amend the law and eliminate the Competitive Committee, establish that in case of a vacant candidate presented by every political force (faction) a right to nominate a new candidate will be reserved again to that political force.

The Head of the RA NA My Step faction Lilit Makunts presented the viewpoint of the Faction. According to her, taking into consideration the urgency of the item, the Faction proposes that in case, when a term is fixed and it is not possible to present a consensus candidate, the right of presenting a candidate will be reserved to the Speaker of the National Assembly. Lilit Makunts noted that Edmon Marukyan’s proposal would also be debated.

The Parliament Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan delivered an extraordinary speech. Introducing his position on the function being reserved to the NA Speaker by the initiative, he has noted that his attitude is negative, and he does not consider it as a good solution. “Nevertheless, I consider it a solution, as we have not a solution until now,” Ararat Mirzoyan noted. In general, he has been against the idea of having a Competitive Committee. Ararat Mirzoyan has stated that he will be only for the best solution being proposed on the item.

In her concluding speech Srbuhi Galyan has not considered Edmon Marukyan’s proposal a version for solving the problem, as, our country does not need a politicized Corruption Prevention Committee. The Deputy Minister deemed fully acceptable the regulations being proposed by the initiative and called on the MPs to vote for it.

The bill on Making Addenda to the Law on Medical Aid and Service of Population authored by the deputies of the RA NA My Step Faction Narek Zeynalyan, Koryun Mkrtchyan, Arpine Davoyan, Lusine Badalyan, Hrachya Hakobyan and Karen Sarukhanyan was debated in the first reading.

The member of the RA NA Standing Committee on Health Care and Social Affairs Lusine Badalyan presented the endorsement of the Committee and called on her colleagues to vote for the bill.

In her co-report the RA First Deputy Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan noted that the executive body presented recommendations in the content, which would be debated during the period from the first to the second reading.

The RA Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Smbat Saiyan presented for debate in the first reading the bill on Making Amendment and Addenda to the RA Law on Making Addenda and Amendments to the RA Labor Code.

Smbat Saiyan answered to the MPs’ questions relating to the obstacles of the process organization.

The bill on Making Amendment and Addendum to the RA Law on State Non-Commercial Organizations was also debated in the first reading procedure.

The NA deputy Sarik Minasyan introduced the endorsement of the NA Standing Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environment.

In their speeches and questions the MPs especially touched upon the tenancy of the educational institutions, the opportunity of the investment growth as a result of amendments and spoke about the problem of the organizations being fed from the tenancy payments.

Afterwards the parliament debated the item of the election of the member of the RA Central Bank (CB) Council. The NA Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan informed that in accordance with Article 201 of the RA Constitution and Article 145 of the Constitutional Law the RA NA Rules of Procedure, the NA Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs proposed to the parliament Hovhannes Khachatryan’s candidacy for the post of the CB Council member. Ararat Mirzoyan has reminded that the item is under debate by the established order of Article 135 of the law NA Rules of Procedure.

The Deputy Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs Artak Manukyan presented the candidate’s biography. After that Hovhannes Khachatryan presented his vision on the monetary credit policy, the macro-economic stability, the regulation and control of the financial system, the competitiveness of the banking system, the organization of the loan process, the technical upgrading of the financial companies, the management of the existing risks and a number of the issues of the sphere.

In their speeches and questions the MPs voiced the problems existing in the spheres of definition of the banking system normative, the possibilities the possibilities of the non-cash deal increase, the regulation of the tariffs, the international credit programmes, the formation of the banking services, the implementation of the credit and investment policy, etc. The candidate gave clarifications on the abovementioned issues and expressed his position.

The Chair of the NA Accounting Committee Vahagn Hovakimyan informed that the voting of the election of the CB Council member would be held on 16 July, at 12:00-13:00.

The RA Deputy Minister of Economy Avag Avanesyan presented for debate in the first reading the draft law on Amending the Law on Advertisement.

In his co-speech the member of the NA Standing Committee on Economic Affairs Hayk Gevorgyan presented the endorsement of the Committee to his colleagues.

The parliament passed by voting all the bills and legislative packages debated during the day.

Afterwards, at the end of the day the bill on Video and Audio Media authored by the NA deputies Vahagn Tevosyan, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan and Arman Babajanyan in the second reading procedure.

The parliament will continue the work of the extraordinary session on 16 July at 11:00.