Republican Party of Armenia

On April 29 the parliament continued the work of the four-day sittings. Before voting the bill “On Amending the RA Law on Approval of Annual and Complex Measures on Restoration, Conservation, Reproduction and Use of Lake Sevan Ecosystem” debated on the previous day the Chairman of the State Committee for Water Economy of the RA Territorial Administration Andranik Andreasyan has noted that taking into account the recommendations received from the factions, the approaches presented by the NGOs, as well as the results of the debate on the item of the RA Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, the government proposes to restrict the deadline of the law enforcement. The Secretary of the PAP faction Naira Zohrabyan announced that the faction would vote for the bill. As a result of voting, the bill was adopted.

Then the deputies in the first reading debated the bill “On Amending the RA Law on Excise Tax.”

The Deputy Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Economic Affairs Mikayel Melkumyan presented the endorsement of the Committee.

The key reporter and the co-reporters answered the deputies’ questions.

At the first NA sitting in parallel with the debate of the bill the secret ballot of the NA President’s election was held. Let us note that at NA April 28 sitting the RPA has nominated in the NA President’s post the candidacy of the Head of the RPA faction Galust Sahakyan, as well as the NA deputy Hrant Bagratyan has been self-nominated in that post.

After the end of the secret ballot the Chairman of the NA Ad-hoc Accounting Committee Sukias Avetisyan informed that the regular sitting of the Committee had been held. The candidacies of Galust Sahakyan and Hrant Bagratyan had been nominated for the election in the NA President’s post. He noted that their surnames had been included in the papers of the secret ballot. Sukias Avetisyan informed the attendees that 106 deputies took part in voting. Opening the voting box the NA Accounting Committee found out that 106 ballot papers were in the box, and two of them were recognized invalid. 101 deputies voted for Galust Sahakyan’s candidacy, and 3 of them against him. 3 deputies voted for Hrant Bagratyan’s candidacy, and 101 deputies against him. As a result of voting, Galust Sahakyan was elected the RA NA President.

The NA newly-elected President Galust Sahakyan thanked the RA President for nominating him, the RPA for supporting him, and the PAP and the Rule of Law factions for participation. Mr Sahakyan thanked the NA deputies Hrant Bagratyan and Ruben Hakobyan for being nominated in the NA President’s post, as well as the factions that did not take part in the election. The NA President has underlined that the traditions formed in the parliament during the recent years will continue, and the National Assembly is the platform, where any proposal can be considered and solved.

After the NA President’s election the parliament continued the debate of the bill “On Amending the RA Law on Excise Tax.”

The NA deputies Khosrov Harutyunyan, Artsvik Minasyan, Mikayel Melkumyan, Mher Shahgeldyan, Gurgen Arsenyan and Hovhannes Margaryan delivered speeches on the item. Khosrov Harutyunyan and Mikayel Melkumyan positively assessed the legislative initiative.

In the name of the ARF faction the Head of the faction Armen Rustamyan gave a speech and expressed concerns on the matter.

Levon Zurabyan presented the view of the ANC faction and noted that the fact was against the bill.

In the final speech the key reporter and the co-reporters thanked for the debates, touched upon the deputies’ interpellations and gave clarifications.

Then the parliament began debating the issue of electing the Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs.

The member of the RPA faction Araik Hovhannisyan announced that the faction nominated the candidacy of the Secretary of the RPA faction Hovhannes Sahakyan in the post of the Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs.

Hovhannes Sahakyan in his speech thanked the RA President, the RPA Chairman Serzh Sargsyan for trust and nominating his candidacy in this responsible post. He presented his passed working path and his approaches in the issue of organizing the work of the NA Standing Committee. Mr Sahakyan assured that he would carry on the traditions formed in the Committee. He highlighted the joint work with the NA all factions and the detailed debates of the bills.

Sukias Avetisyan introduced the election of the Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs, noting that the voting would be organized on April 30 from 12:30 – 13:30.

The RA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Artem Asatryan in the first reading presented the draft law “On Amending the RA Law on Accumulating Pensions.”

The debate of the issue will continue at April 30 sitting of the National Assembly.

In accordance with the NA Rules of Procedure, one hour of the last sitting was allotted to the deputies’ announcements.