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On April 9 the National Assembly continued the work of the next sittings. The deputies welcomed the lecturers and students of the Faculty of Journalism of Yerevan State University, who visited the parliament within the framework of the NA “Open Doors” programme and were following the deputies' work.
Then the parliament continued debating the conclusion of the Ad-hoc Committee Studying the RA Gas Supply System Activity.
The deputies continued debating the conclusion of the Ad-hoc Committee Studying the RA Gas Supply System Activity. The NA Factions resumed presenting their viewpoints on the issue.
In his speech Artsvik Minasyan touched upon his colleagues' interpellations and gave clarifications, highly assessing the work done by the Ad-hoc Committee.
Aram Manukyan has presented the viewpoint of the ANC Faction, noting that a big amount of work has been done, though it is not sufficient.
The member of the PAP Faction Mikayel Melkumyan touched upon his counterparts' raised questions, also assessed the hard work done by the members of the Ad-hoc Committee.
The Secretary of the RPA Faction Gagik Melikyan highly assessed the work of the Ad-hoc Committee and expressed conviction that the conclusion and the recommendations will help improving the work of the relevant bodies, particularly the work of Gasprom-Armenia.
In his final speech the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee Studying the RA Gas Supply System Activity Vardan Ayvazyan referred to the deputies’ interpellations and recommendations and gave clarifications.
The NA draft statement on the Armenian Genocide Centennial has been debated.
Then the parliament considered the NA draft statement on the Armenian Genocide Centennial authored by the deputies Zaruhi Postanjyan, Vahe Enfiajyan, Artak Zakaryan, Koryun Nahapetyan, Araik Hovhannisyan, Naira Karapetyan, Artashes Geghamyan, Hamlet Harutyunyan, Sukias Avetisyan, Alexander Arzumanyan, Shirak Torosyan, Samvel Farmanyan, Volodya Badalyan, Tatchat Vardapetyan, Mher Shahgeldyan, Artsvik Minasyan, which presented Zaruhi Postanjyan. The draft statement reads:
“The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia
- Having regard to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 9 December 1948, the Law on the Condemnation of the 1915 Genocide of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey by the ArmSSR Supreme Council on 22 November 1988,”
- evaluating the provisions stipulated in the All-Armenian Declaration of the Armenian Genocide Centennial,
- highlighting the contribution of the Armenian people to the joint efforts of the international community aimed at the crimes against mankind, condemnation and prevention of genocides,
- extending gratitude to the parliaments and state institutions of all countries, which have officially recognized the Armenian Genocide, have adopted laws criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial,
Calls on the parliaments of all countries and inter-parliamentary organizations to officially recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire as a gravest crime against mankind.”
The Chairman of the NA Standing Committee Artak Zakaryan presented the endorsement of the Committee and proposed to fill up the text of the statement, which was accepted by the key reporter Zaruhi Postanjyan.
The NA deputies Hovhannes Margaryan, Hrant Bagratyan, Alexander Arzumanyan, Rubik Hakobyan, Shirak Torosyan, Koryun Nahapetyan, Mher Shahgeldyan, Samvel Farmanyan, Zaruhi Postanjyan expressed their viewpoints on the issue under debate.
The RA NA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov delivered an extraordinary speech. He has noted that the genocides irrespective of the fact who have perpetrated, when and where should be condemned. “We are people who have survived the genocide, and it is natural that we should adopt a statement, appeal to the international community, and parliaments of different countries, inter-parliamentary organizations and international structures, in order they would condemn the Armenian Genocide,” the NA Deputy Speaker said. In his word, our struggle does not end with the Armenian Genocide Centennial, but a new phase of struggle begins. By Mr Sharmazanov’s assessment, it is not accidental that a provision criminalizing the denialism is precisely stipulated in the statement. Eduard Sharmazanov has noted that the denialism is as dangerous and criminal, as the perpetration of the genocide, and in the 21st century the denilaism should be criminally punished. He does not agree with the viewpoints that the demanding of the Armenian Genocide should be the Armenian Diaspora’s monopoly.
Artsvik Minasyan presented the viewpoint of the ARF Faction, informing the attendees that the Faction will vote for it and made proposals.
The Head of the Rule of Law Faction Heghine Bisharyan informed that they will vote for the NA draft statement.
The Head of the ANC Faction Levon Zurabyan noted that the Faction will not take part in the voting of the NA draft statement.
By the conviction of the Head of the PAP Faction Naira Zohrabyan, the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide will be on the RA political agenda. She advised her counterparts not to distort the content of the statement and not remove the debates to another field.
The RA NA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov has presented the viewpoint of the RPA Faction and has noticed that the debate of the NA draft statement is one of the cases when the viewpoints of all forces represented in the parliament coincide besides some exceptions. He has informed that the RPA Faction will vote for it.
In his summarizing speech Artak Zakaryan highlighted the unity of all Armenians, the contribution of the united efforts with the international community in this struggle. The speaker thanked the MPs for the recommendations and concerned debates.
In the final speech the key speaker Zaruhi Postanjyan touched upon the voiced viewpoints and presented the revised version of the draft statement based on the deputies’ recommendations.
The Government proposes to invest the Institute of Mediation.
Then the parliament in the first reading debated the package of the law “On Amending the RA Civil Procedure Code” and other relevant draft laws, which submitted the RA First Deputy Justice Minister Arsen Mkrtchyan.
The National Assembly ended the work of the next sittings.
