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On February 27, the RA National Assembly began the work of the regular sittings. The parliament refused the inclusion of the RA draft law on Amending the RA Electoral Code in the agenda of the third session of the National Assembly sixth convocation.

Nikol Pashinyan presented the RA NA Draft Statement on 1-2 March 2008 Events authored by the RA NA Way Out Faction for including it in the agenda of the third session of the NA sixth convocation.

The Deputy Chairman of the RA NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs and Protection of Human Rights Rustam Makhmudyan informed that the draft had not been endorsed.

The Head of the RA NA RPA Faction Vahram Baghdasaryan proposed to vote for the RA NA Draft Statement proposed to vote for the RA NA Draft Statement for completely debating it. As a result of voting, the draft law was included in the agenda of the third session of the RA NA sixth convocation.

After approving the agendas of the RA NA session and regular sittings the deputies debated the item of the election of the five members of the first group of the Higher Judicial Council.

The RA NA Speaker Ara Babloyan informed that under Article 174 of the RA Constitution the RA National Assembly should elect five members out of ten for the Higher Judicial Council.

The Head of the Parliament has informed that the RA NA Republican Party of Armenia and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation factions proposed the candidates for the positions of five members of the First Group of the Higher Judicial Council of Gagik Harutyunyan (five-year term), Gevorg Danielyan (five-year term), Liparit Melikjanyan (five-year term), Hayk Hovhannisyan (three-year term) and Sergey Meghryan (three-year term).

Presenting the candidates the Head of the RA NA RPA Faction Vahram Baghdasaryan touched upon their passed path and the professional activities.

The RA NA deputies Aram Sargsyan, Aghvan Vardanyan, Koryun Nahapetyan, Vardan Bostanjan, Gevorg Kostanyan, Rustam Makhmudyan, Gevorg Petrosyan, Khosrov Harutyunyan, Nikol Pashinyan expressed their viewpoints on the problems of the RA judicial system.

The RA NA Deputy Speakers Arpine Hovhannisyan and Mikayel Melkumyan presented their expectations from the Higher Judicial Council and touched upon the problems of the judicial system.

The RA NA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharamazanov and highlighted the issue under debate and the principle of the authorities' separation.

Armen Rustamyan presented the positive viewpoint of the RA NA ARF Faction and Gevorg Kostanyan presented the position of the RA NA RPA Faction .

In their final speeches the candidates thanked for the shown trust, presented the programmes, touched upon the deputies' remarks.

The Chair of the RA NA Ad hoc Committee Gagik Melikyan informed that the voting for being elected in the positions of the Higher Judicial Council members will be held on February 28, at 10:30a.m. in the foyer of the RA NA Session Hall.

Gevorg Kostanyan's candidate was nominated by the RA NA RPA Faction for being elected in the vacant position of the Chair of the RA NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs and Protection of Human Rights. The Head of the Faction Vahram Baghdasaryan presented the candidate's biography, the working path, stressed his professionalism, objectivity and experience.

The RA NA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov delivered an extraordinary speech.

Speaking about the period when Gevorg Kostanyan worked as Prosecutor General, Eduard Sharmazanov noted that the corruption risks reduced after being appointed in that position.

The RA NA Deputy Speaker Arpine Hovhannisyan also expressed his viewpoint.

The RA NA Deputy Speakers proposed their colleagues to vote for the nominated candidacy.

The RA NA deputies Ruzanna Muradyan, Samvel Farmanyan, Margarit Yesayan, Rustam Makhmudyan, Hrayr Tovmasyan, Karen bekaryan, Samvle Nikoyan, Khosrov Harutyunyan highly assessed the candidate's human and professional qualities and scientific activities.

In case of being elected the MPs wished success Gevorg Kostanyan and called on their colleagues to vote for him.

In his final speech Gevorg Kostanyan thanked his colleagues for the voiced assessments and the trust.

Gagik Melikyan informed that the voting of the election for the Chair of the RA NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs and Protection of Human Rights will be held on February 28, from 13:00 until 14:00 in the foyer of the RA NA Session Hall.

Let us note that, according to the RA Constitutional Law the RA NA Rules of Procedure, the RA NA deputies made their announcements.

The National Assembly will continue the work on February 28.