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On March 23 the National Assembly began the work of the next four-day sittings. The deputies welcomed the pedagogues and pupils of Karakert Schools N 1 and N 2 of Armavir Marz, who visited the National Assembly within the framework of the Open Doors programme and observed the procedure of the NA sittings.

The NA Speaker Galust Sahakyan informed that at the sitting of the Prosperous Armenia Faction (PAP) Naira Zohrabyan was elected Head of the PAP Faction, and Vahe Enfiajyan was the Secretary.

Then, according to Article 14 of the RA law NA Rules of Procedure, the Head of the PAP Faction Naira Zohrabyan made a statement on being opposition.

The parliament did not pass the decision of the RA National Assembly “On Including in the Agenda of the Seventh Session of the Fifth Convocation of the RA National Assembly the Legislative Initiative Related to Severe Murders Occurred in Gyumri on 12 January 2015.” authored by Zaruhi Postanjyan.

The NA draft statement “On Condemning the Genocide of the Greeks and Assyrians Perpetrated by Ottoman Turkey in 1915-1923” Was Debated.

After approving the agendas of the session and the four-day sittings the deputies began debating the draft statement “On Condemning the Genocide of the Greeks and Assyrians Perpetrated by Ottoman Turkey in 1915-1923” authored by the NA deputies Eduard Sharmazanov, Armen Rustamyan, Hovhannes Sahakyan, Edmon Marukyan, Arpine Hovhannisyan, Tevan Poghosyan, Gurgen Arsenyan, Heghine Bisharyan, Alexander Arzumanyan, Vahram Baghdasaryan, Hermine Naghdalyan, Margarit Yesayan, Lyudmila Sargsyan, Gagik Melikyan and Aragats Akhoyan. The key speaker, the RA NA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov has informed that the deputies of the NA 6 factions, independent deputies, representatives of Assyrian and Greek communities, Diaspora, historians, Turkologists, scholars and took part in the revision of the draft statement. The NA Deputy Speaker has underlined that in the revision of the draft the contribution of the late deputy Vahan Hovhannisyan was great.

“The adoption of the draft statement will be our contribution in the international struggle against genocides,” Eduard Sharmazanov said.

In his speech Shirak Torosyan presented the endorsement of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations.

The NA deputies Gurgen Arsenyan, Hovhannes Margaryan, Hayk Babukhanyan, Edmon Marukyan, Tevan Poghosyan, Hrant Bagratyan, Samvel Farmanyan, Mher Shahgeldyan, Artak Zakaryan, Artashes Geghamyan, Zaruhi Postanjyan and Khosrov Harutyunyan expressed their views on the item.

The NA factions expressed their views on the NA draft statement.

The Head of the Heritage Faction Rubik Hakobyan touched upon the process of the recognition of genocides and informed that the Heritage would vote for the NA draft statement.

The Head of the ARF Faction Armen Rustamyan has noted that the adoption of the NA statement ahead of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide gets special importance.

The Head of the PAP Faction Naira Zohrabyan presented the view of the Faction and informed that they would vote for the NA draft statement.

The Head of the RPA Vahram Baghdasaryan in his speech welcomed the debate of the NA draft statement and has informed that the faction would for it.

In his final speech the co-author of the draft Eduard Sharmazanov referred to his colleagues’ observations and recommendations and gave clarifications.

The parliament will continue its work on March 24.