On September 29 the sittings of the Standing Committees of the National Assembly were held.

At the sittings of the NA Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Economic Affairs a draft law and an international agreement were discussed.

The government presented the proposal on Making Addenda to the Law on the Body to Regulate Public Services for the Committee’s evaluation. The Committee endorsed the draft to be put on the agendas of four-day sittings and session.

The agreement on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture will also be endorsed to be put on the agenda of the NA four-day sittings. Mr. David Lokyan, Minister of Agriculture, informed that the Plants Genetic Center, the only one in the region, was established and to be open soon in Echmiadzin.

At the sitting of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, presided over Mr. Armen Roustamyan, Minister of Justice Mr. David Harutyunyan presented the Anti Corruption Convention signed on October 31, 2003 in New-York. The Minister of Justice also presented the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption (The Hague, 29 May 1993) with the attached declaration and the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (The Hague, 25 October 1980) with the attached reservations.

Mrs. Hasmik Poghosyan, Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs, presented the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression signed on October 20, 2005 in Paris.

Mr. David Lokyan, Minister of Agriculture, presented an international agreement on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture signed in November 2001 in Rome.

Mr. Gegham Gharibjanyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, presented the Plan of Activities of Cooperation Program between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the UNDP for 2005- 2009 signed on February 24, 2005 in Yerevan. To execute the Plan of activities the UNDP will invest 25.272.000 USD, out of which, in the amount of 10%, at least 2.500.000.USD the Government of the Republic of Armenia will undertake.

The international agreements discussed at the sitting will be endorsed for the Committee’s ratification.

At the sitting of the NA Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Health Care and Environment, presided over Mr. Mnatsakan Petrosyan, the government submitted draft on Making Amendments to the RA Law on Social Security of Military Servants and Their Family Members was debated through the procedure of the second reading.

Mr. Harutyun Yavryan, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee of Physical Education and Sports adjunct to the RA Government, presented the government- submitted draft on Making Amendments to the RA Law on Youth Sport. The draft was endorsed to be put on the agendas of the NA four-day sittings.

Mr. Aghvan Vardanyan, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, presented the fulfilled works and issues of the RA Laws on State Allowances and on Social Support. According to the Minister, an average number of families, which received a family allowance, is 129.896 for the past 8 months (January-February).