On February 20 on the initiative of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, the National Assembly convened a special session, the agenda of which comprised more than five dozen issues.

The parliament by voting adopted four legislative packages, discussed during the first four-day sittings of the spring session, as well as the draft law of amendments and addenda to the law on the RA Citizenship.

After that the agenda issues introduced by the government were discussed.

Making amendments and addenda to the law on Local Self-Government, the executive power transferred the provision of the road traffic security to the local self-government bodies, increasing the latter’s authorities.

Mr. Suren Gharayan, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy informed that the government intends to invest criteria for the extension of the terms for the goods to be drawn down on customs temporary regimes. In the opinion of Mr. Gagik Minasyan, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Financial-Credit, Budgetary and Economic Affairs, in the result of this event equal conditions will be created for the economic entities. In his words this is the next step directed to improve customs legislation. The Committee has endorsed the draft law. The Deputy Minister introduced to the MPs the suggestion of making amendments to the law on the Control Chamber.

Highlighting the Chamber’s activities publicity, Mr. Gagik Minasyan, Chairman of the committee finds that during a year problems often rise and cause necessity of operative action. As to him, the publicity can be provided by parliamentary debates, as well as by the help of mass media.

The government proposes the parliament to make amendments to the law on the Protection of Economic Competition and the laws on Organizing and Holding Check-ups in the Republic of Armenia. If the draft law is adopted, the talks about not having the chance to prevent levers and abuse sounded on the committee of the protection of economic competition will stop.

The government’s proposal to make amendments and addenda to the law on Judicial Service concerns the mechanisms of conferring higher degrees in this structure of state services and determining necessary conditions for some specialists. Mr. David Harutyunyan, Justice Minister introduced the issue. Making amendments to the law on Funds, the government clarifies the classification of fund expenditures, the duties and rights of the council of trusties, as well the order of introducing accounts of the fund.

According Mr. Gevorg Malkhasyan, Deputy Justice Minister, the necessity of making amendments and addenda to the laws on Television and Radio and on the Regulations of the National Committee on Television and Radio stems from constitutional amendments.

By the legislative package on Licensing the Government reduces the list of kinds of activities subject to licensing, removing a number of fields.

Mr. Aghvan Vardanyan, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs introduced the legislative package of the amendments to the law on Social Security Cards.

For the adoption in the second reading the MPs were introduced the draft laws on Coming into Force of the Judicial Code of the Republic of Armenia, on Prosecutor’s Office (55^th article in the first reading), on Aviation, On Establishment of Tax Privileges Towards the Construction Works of Meghri-Kajaran pipeline and the draft laws on the amendments and addenda to the laws on RA International Treaties, on Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, On Road Trafficking Security, On Body Regulating the Public Services, aswell as the draft laws on making amendments and addenda to the RA Criminal Procedure Code, RA Civil Code and the RA Judicial Code to adopt in the third reading.

The special session will continue on February 21.