On August 20, the extraordinary session of the National Assembly was continued by the MPs’ speeches, related to the package of the draft laws, proposing amendments to the RA Law on Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law on Trade and Services and to other laws.

According to Mrs. Zaruhi Postanjyan, the presented package of the draft laws, related to 30.000 citizens, is not foreseen, as we do not know whether they may lose their jobs or not. The application of this law may cause new social and political tensions. According to the MP there are also advanced items in the draft, which of course are nothing in general politics. According to Larisa Alaverdyan, though this draft is related to the economic sphere, it may cause political tension. By her assurance all the economic amendments should be done from the “top” and not spread the tax burden on the small ones. Mr. Honhannes Margaryan, highlighting and being for the presented package, noted that there are also some issues to be examined, especially in trade, related the protection of the interests of the citizens, working in markets.

Presenting the view of the Heritage faction, Mr. Armen Martirosyan said that according to the draft of the Government of the Republic of Armenia the important issues should be passed the social discussion, which was not happened.

Mr. Hrayr Karapetyan, Vice President of the National Assembly presented the view of the ARF faction. He said that the presented drafts were only a part of the Government’s draft and expressed hope that the complete package of the tax sphere will be presented up to the end of the year. Mr. Karapetyan said that the draft is commendable, especially asit brings the shady economics into the legal field.

Presenting the view of the RPA faction, Mr. Gagik Minasyan said that for two months continually the draft laws were debated with the interested different NGOs and political different forces and they were amended through the proposals during the meetings. The speaker stated that the RPA faction would vote for this important draft.

Mr. Aharon Chilingaryan, Deputy Head of State Tax Service, Adjunct to the Government, highlighted the debate of the issue and the expressed proposals, especially expressed satisfaction for the application of penalties, payments, for the proposals, related to tax threshold and assured that the bill would be amended by the expressed proposals.

The MPs also debated the bill on Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Customs Code,presented by Mr. Gagik Khachatryan, Chairman of the State Customs Committee. According to him, some provisions, related to the customs are not fully included in the Code in function.

Mr. Gagik Khachatryan, in the completing speech assured that after the first reading they will touch upon the clarification of the presented provisions.

Mr. Andranik Andreasyan, Head of the State Committee of Water Recourses, adjunct to Government, presented the bill on Making Amendments to the RA Law on Approving the Annual and Complex Programs of the Events of the Restoration, Preservation, Reproduction and Exploitation of the Ecosystem of Lake Sevan.

Also the MPs took floor, related to the debated issue.

According to Mr. Vahan Hovhannisyan, the increase of water level of Sevan is a normal phenomenon during the last decades.

Mr. Armen Martirosyan, Ms. Lilit Galstyan, Mr. Styopa Safaryan, Ms. Artsvik Minasyan, Ms. Zaruhi Postanjyan, Ms. Larisa Alaverdyan also expressed concern on releasing a great amount of water from Lake Sevan, which was not substantiated in the aspect of satisfying the demand, for irrigation purposes. They also considered groundless the reasoning that there was a drought year and few precipitations. According to Mr. Khachik Harutyunyan it is possible to release water from Sevan for irrigation purposes, but it should be released as little as possible, and other alternative ways should be found and they should use water productively.

Mr. Styopa Safaryan presented the view of the Heritage faction, saying that their faction is not against the solution of the agricultural problems, but not through ignoring the loses. Other alternative ways should be taken into consideration. According to him the amount of released and demanded water is not substantiated, as connected with drought, and does not exist in reality. According to the faction the government should take back this draft to avoid the “bargain.” He expressed hope that the Government would give a right assessment to their step and would think about other alternative means of irrigation.

The speeches of other factions would be presented during the next sitting, which will take place on August 21 at 10 am.