NA Standing Committees Convene Sittings

YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS: On May 17 the NA Standing Committees convened sittings. The NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs moderated by Davit Harutyunyan debated a group of issues, which would be included in the draft agendas of the NA spring session and upcoming four-day sittings. As Armenpress was reported by the Department for Public Relations and Mass Media of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, the RA Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan submitted to the Committee for debate in the first reading the package of bills “On Amending the RA Judicial Code” and “On Amending the RA Law on State Duty.”

The deputy Rubik Hakobyan proposed for the committee’s assessment the bill “On Amending the RA Electoral Code.” The bill was not endorsed, as the Committee Chairman said it was anti-constitutional: it was violating the citizen’s secrecy of electoral right.

Then the Committee debated the package of bills “On Amending the RA Criminal Procedural Code” and “On Amending the RA Criminal Code.” By the Deputy Edmon Marukyan’s proposal the committee debated the package of bills “On Amending the RA Civil Procedure Code” and “On Amending the RA Judicial Code.”

By the proposal of the Justice Minister the Committee debated the package of bills “On Amending the RA Government’s Structure” and “On Amending the RA Law on Public Service.” The Committee also endorsed these bills.

The Committee in the second reading debated and endorsed the bills ““On Amending the RA Public Services Label,” “On Amending the RA La on State Duty” and “On Amending the RA Citizenship.”

At the sitting ofthe NA Standing Committee on Human Rights and Public Affairsmoderated by Elinar Vardanyan it was decided by voting to organize parliamentary hearings on the theme “The Guarantees of Handicraft Unions” on June 4.

Then the Committee members met with the experts of the USAID agency. They presented the international experience on making report of the budget executive and presenting them.

The Committee Chair Elinar Vardanyan thanked the guests for studying the problem, noting that the use of the experience of the leading countries would be effective for our country.

At the sitting ofthe NA Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairsthe international experience of the oversight of the use of the laws was debated.

The four-year program of the SANAP is aimed at the strengthening of the representation, oversight and analytical capabilities of the parliament.

The USAID adviser Thomas Bridle introduced the international experience to the Committee members.

The Deputy Chairman of the NKR National Assembly Arthur Tovmasyan for debate and the Chairman of the Committee on Financial-Budgetary and Economic Administration Arpat Avanesyan were invited.

On the same day moderatedNA Standing Committee on Foreign Relationsmoderated by Artak Zakaryan debated the Agreement “On Cooperation in the Sphere of Defense between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Republic of Italy,” which presented the RA Deputy Defense Minister Ara Nazaryan.

The debated agreement was endorsed for consideration and ratification in the parliament.