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It is proposed to calculate a surcharge as a result of the 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 Deputy Director of the RA National Security Service Andranik Simonyan said this. The package of draft laws on Making Amendments and Addenda to the Law on Service in the National Security Bodies and on Making Addenda and Amendments to the Law on Remuneration of Persons Holding State Positions and State Service Positions was debated at the RA NA regular sitting in the first reading on February 28.

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. In case of a negative certification result, the employee will have the opportunity to apply for re-certification twice in a year. The certification procedure, the amounts of the calculated surcharge and the payment procedure will be defined by the Government decision, and the range of employees’ positions subject to certification will be defined by the order of the National Security Service Director.

Andranik Simonyan mentioned that on the basis of a number of proposals stated by the deputies at the sitting of the Standing Committee on Defense and Security, the drafts will be edited before they are submitted to the NA for debate in the second reading: a revised version of the draft package will be introduced.

The deputy Arsen Torosyan inquired about the mechanisms by which the transparent and impartial certification process will be ensured. In response, Andranik Simonyan informed that a Certification Commission will be created, which will be headed by the Service Director, the Deputy Directors of the service will also be part of the Commission. The process will be carried out in two phases: testing and interview. It is planned to include 20 questions in the testing phase. In case of giving 17 positive answers, the employee will pass to the interview phase. In the case of servicemen holding separate positions, a test on physical and combat readiness will be designed before the testing phase.

The endorsement of the Standing (Head) Committee on Defense and Security was introduced by the co-rapporteur Kristine Poghosyan, informing that the Committee has some observations and proposals that will be debated during the period from the first to the second reading.

The package of debated draft laws was adopted in the first reading.