On September 11 the Parliament convened the autumn session. Mr. Tigran Torosyan, the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia declared the opening of the 8^th session of the third convocation of the National Assembly under the sounds of the anthem of the Republic of Armenia.

Prior to touching upon the agenda, the NA President informed the MPs about two applications sent to him. According to the first one, Mr. Viktor Dallakyan stopped his membership in the “Ardarutiun” faction. The other application stated that the MP Mr. Tatul Manaseryan is not a member of the “Ardarutiun” faction. Mr. Grigor Harutyunyan has undertaken the duties of the secretary of the “Ardarutiun” faction instead of Mr. Viktor Dallakyan.

The MPs confirmed by voting the proposed amendments and addenda both: on the agenda of the session and four-day sittings and the agendas in the whole. The draft on the Establishment of the Ad-hoc Committee on Studying the RA Government Activity in the sphere of Civil Aviation received negative conclusion at the sitting of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal affairs, did not receive necessary number of “for” votes and was not put on the agenda. Within the framework of these four-day sittings it is envisaged to debate by alternative procedure two drafts pertaining the NA “Rules of Procedure:” the drafts amendments in NA Rules of Procedure initiated by different political forces.

Mr. Vache Terteryan, the Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration presented the draft on Making Amendments and Addendum to the Law on Territorial Administration.

Mr. Ararat Mahtesyan, the Deputy Chief of the RA Police proposed to adopt three draft amendments to the RA Law on Approval of the Disciplinary Code of the RA Police, on Service in the Police, on Social Security of Military Servants and Their Family Members.

Mr. Rafik Petrosyan, the Chair of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs presented the package on proposed amendments to the NA Rules of Procedure, elaborated by mutual agreement of parliamentary political forces. It is envisaged in the draft that 12 standing committees will function in the National Assembly for the next convocation. Every committee will have a secretariat. According to the draft the Parliament is authorized to accept messages and statements. National TV will broadcast the video recording of the issue debates.

Mr. Hovhannes Margaryan, the Deputy Chair of the Committee, presented the endorsement of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs regarding the draft. In the question-answer session with main reporters the MPs touched upon different issues. There was an opinion that the MPs who were included in faction by being elected on proportional vote, and then left that faction should be deprived of their mandates. The NA President clarified that even if the issue is on time, the Constitution does not envisage the process of depriving an MP of his mandate. Regarding debates on the number of standing committees, Mr. T. Torosyan noted that it is necessary to confirm now all the committees to ensure the full activity of the next Parliament. The issues of the NA regular sessions’ frequency became an issue of dispute. The ULP faction proposed to convene sessions every week. Some others think, that it is not possible to work that way, and the main legislative process should be left to the Committees.

The Parliament will continue the debate on the issue at September 12 sitting.