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On October 26, the RA National Assembly began the work of the regular sittings. The Parliament affirmed the draft agendas of the sessions and the regular sittings and also adopted the NA draft decision on Holding an urgent debate on a topic presenting the public interest on the situation on the line of contact of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan and the demarcation problems at a closed sitting.

According to the Constitutional Law - the NA Rules of Procedure, the deputy of the NA Armenia Faction Artur Sargsyan swore-in at the NA sitting.

The RA Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan presented the draft law on Making Amendments to the RA Law on the RA Holidays and Memorial Day for debate in the first reading. It proposes to reduce non-working days set for the New Year and the Holy Nativity Holidays. According to it, it is proposed to set December 31 including January 1 and January 6 as non-working days for celebrating the New Year and the Holy Nativity Holidays.

Afterwards, Arpine Davoyan has informed that the conclusion of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs related to the draft is positive.

The deputies presented their viewpoints and also proposals referring to the draft. On behalf of the faction, the deputy of the Armenia Faction Aram Vardevanyan proposed to set January 2 and 7 as non-working days too. As he has said, it may be possible to fix a transition period, according to which, the proposed amendments can be immediately entered into force for the state and the political official, and for the public – gradually. Let us note that some deputies from the Civil Contract Faction considered this proposal populist.

The deputy from the Civil Contract Faction Shirak Torosyan proposed to announce the following Monday as non-working day instead of holidays coinciding with Saturday or Sunday.

During the debate in the second reading, it will be clear whether the proposals are acceptable for the author or not.

The NA factions presented their positions.

The deputy of the Armenia Faction Aram Vardevanyan has referred to their proposals and has expressed hope that they will be accepted.

Khachatur Sukisayan presented the position of the Civil Contract Faction. He considered the adoption of the draft necessary.

In his final speech, the Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan has expressed an opinion that after the 7-day rest in January, the economic activity weakens to some extent, and it is difficult to restore it again.

“The adoption of this draft law is very important from the viewpoint of underlining the attitude towards the work,” he said.