On December 4, at the sitting of the National Assembly the deputies ratified by voting the report on Making Amendments and Addenda to the Agreement on Legal Status of Collective Security Treaty Organization, signed on October 7, 2002 in Dushanbe, the second report on Making Addenda to the Agreement on Main Principles of Military - Technical Co-operation between the Participant States of the Collective Security Treaty Organization of May 15, 1992, Agreements on Peace-Making Activity of Collective Security Treaty Organization, on Mutual Cooperation in the Field of Advertising - Exhibition Activity in the Sphere of Military-Economic Cooperation between the Member States of Collective Security Treaty Organization, on Creation of the System of Forces and Control Facilities of the System of Collective Security Treaty Organization. The Legislative Package, presented by the MPs Mr. Rafik Petrosyan, Mr. Vardan Bostanjyan, Mr. Mkhitar Mnatsakanyan, on Making Amendments to the Civil Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia, on Making Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia, on Making Amendment to the RA Law on Advocacy, on Making Amendment to the RA Law on Judicial Code of the Republic of Armenia and on Making Amendment to the RA Administrative Procedure Code was adopted through the first reading.

Mr. Ishkhan Zakaryan, Chairman of the Control Chamber submitted the Annual Program of the CC Activity of 2009 of the Republic of Armenia. Presenting the content of the program and the spheres of the control, he said that he consulted with Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan, President of the National Assembly, while developing the activity program. Mr. Zakaryan said that by the promotion of foreign states and international financial organizations a control over 5 credit programs was envisaged, related to the usage of credit means - the program of restoration of the systems of water supply and water removal of the Lori marz of the Republic of Armenia, realized by the promotion of the Credits Development Bank of Germany, the program of restoration of systems of water supply and water removal of the Shirak marz of the Republic of Armenia, realized by the promotion of the Credits Development Bank of Germany, and the third program, which is promoted by the World Bank - Fund of social investments of Armenia.

Presenting the endorsement of the Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs of the National Assembly, Mr. Gagik Minassyan stressed that the control of the CC would be more productive if the draft budget had a program for budgeting. He called his colleagues to vote for the approval of the draft.

Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan, President of the National Assembly, in his extraordinary speech said:-

“In the morning we discussed this issue with the Chairman of the Control Chamber, also with the chairman of the committee. And we intend to clarify the program. There were numerous discussions, observations, clarifications and accusations on the controls in the media before. Therefore I also want to discuss the very problems, clarifyingthe program. In my opinion the chairman of the CC wants the functions and actions of the CC to be clear and transparent, visible and comprehensible to all. We just cannot realize it in the program of 2009, because of a shortage of time, but I am sure that at the end of 2009, when the National Assembly will approve the program for the following year, the directions will be more distinct. It is very important to have distinct directions in the program. What does it mean? Let us suppose that in the program it is written Ministry of Healthcare or Urban Ministry. The CC is given a wide choice of authority to decide what directions to check. Let us suppose that there are 60 programs in the Ministry. It is clear that the CC, with its today’s staff even physically cannot realize the control of those 60 programs. And, of course, dozens of Ministries are included in this program. I proposed and the chairman of the CC also agreed the directions to have in that program. I also want to talk on political implication; there are controls, realized by different control organizations. Suppose a department is being controlled by 3 organizations. This is inadmissible.There are rumors that some supervisors use their supervision to further their own interests. I want to exclude it because the head of any control organization cannot realize his/her activities, furthering personal interests. It is extremely dangerous for our country, and society. Similar people have no right to work on such posts. In general we have to discuss this theme because there were various observations, analyses, which later were turned to the discussions of personal interests. I want to exclude it, similar cases were not real, but there were simply misunderstandings and I am sure that the realized activities were carried out just for the interests of our country. We have to control our state budget expenses. We do not have to let anyone to get into the pocket of the state budget. It should be excluded. The position of the National Assembly should be unanimous; in the basis of all the debates of the issues there should be transparency and fairness. In my opinion of course there should be statements and criticism but they should be healthy and on a right basis and not furthering personal interests. Once again I want to certify that if any head of the control organization or employee uses his/her functions for furthering personal interests, it is very dangerous for out country and society. I call our colleagues to approve this draft, but also the CC Chairman to undertake the responsibility for the program of 2009, which will be submitted and approved for 2010 to be more transparent and the heads of the departments not to be displeased. We can also reduce the corruption risks. Suppose there are questions why do we control this or that program. For preventing such issues the CC should have distinct directions in the draft, for us to be far from similar rumors. Once again I call our colleagues to approve this draft.”

Mr. Samvel Nikoyan presented the view of the RPA faction. The secretary of the faction believes that the CC activity should be more concrete for there are no various comments.

Highlighting the draft in debate, Mr. Ga gik Minasyan, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs of the National Assembly, said that there is an arrangement of the CC draft to be more transparent from the forthcoming year. In his completing speech Mr. Ishkhan Zakaryan, Chairman of the Control Chamber touched upon the MPs’ speeches and proposals, certified that before presenting the final conclusion the CC examinations and the objections of the control body are debated in the sitting of the CC council.

Mr. Manuk Vardanyan, Chairman of the State Committee of the Real Estate Cadastre, adjunct to the Government of the Republic of Armenia, presented for the first reading the bill on Making Addenda to the RA Law on Administrative-Territorial Division of the Republic of Armenia.

Mr. Hovhannes Margaryan, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Territorial Management and Local Self-Government of the National Assembly presented the endorsement of the committee.

The MP Mr. Ara Nranyan, co-author of the bill, presented for the first reading the legislative initiative on Making Amendments to the RA Law on Excise Tax.

For the second reading the MPs debated the draft law on Making Addenda and Amendments to the RA Law on Civil Service.

Then by voting, the MPs approved the Annual Action Plan of the CC of 2009, the bills on Making Addenda to the RA Law on Administrative-Territorial Division of the Republic of Armenia and on Making Amendments to the RA Law on Excise Tax were adopted for the first reading, for the second reading and fully were adopted the draft law on Making Addenda and Amendments to the RA Law on Civil Service.

Mr. Arman Sahakyan, co-author of the bill for the first reading presented the RPA faction’s authorized draft law on Granting Tax Privileges to those who Pay Tax for Area of Land of Agricultural Value.

Under sounds of the hymn of the Republic of Armenia the fourth session of the National Assembly of the fourth convocation was closed.