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The aim of the initiative is the introduction of a new certification system in the National Security bodies, as a result of which, provision of a higher salary, as well as ensuring the proper level of the employees’ professional training. The Deputy Director of the RA National Security Service Andranik Simonyan said this.

The package of draft laws authored by the Government on Amendments and Addenda to the Law on Service in National Security Bodies and on Addenda and Amendments to the Law on Remuneration of Persons Holding State Positions and State Service Positions was debated by the Standing Committee on Defense and Security at February 27 sitting.

In particular, it is proposed to introduce a surcharge calculated as a result of certification for the employees performing state border protection, intelligence or counter-intelligence or operative-intelligence activities, implementation of special tasks, planning and control functions in the National Security bodies. The employees holding the mentioned positions will participate in the certification for the first time on a voluntary basis. Each subsequent certification will be carried out once every three years.

Presenting the certification procedure in detail, Andranik Simonyan mentioned that it, as well as the amounts of the surcharge and the payment procedure, will be defined by the Government's decision.

At the request of the deputies, Andranik Simonyan introduced clarifications regarding the notion of special task used in Article 28 of the draft, the need for legal regulations.

The co-rapporteur Kristine Poghosyan informed that the Committee has some observations that will be introduced during the period from the first to the second reading.

Armen Khachatryan highlighted that the issue of significant salary increase is related to knowledge and professionalism. However, he expressed concern, in particular, regarding the issue of the operational staff employees, who have high work efficiency and overloaded work schedule. He proposed to discuss the prepared tests, the certification procedure in the Committee before presenting to the Government and to take into consideration the fact that a highly efficient operational officer who works in an overburdened mode should have the opportunity to pass the certification.

According to the Chair of the Standing Committee on Defense and Security Andranik Kocharyan, the Committee will take an active part in the process of developing certification standards.

The Committee expert group briefly introduced the issues and the legal regulations’ package of the proposed solutions.

In his final speech, Andranik Simonyan thanked the Committee and the experts for their work, noting that all proposal will be debated.

The Committee endorsed the package of draft laws: it will be debated within 24 hours.