On March 17 the regular four-day sittings of the National Assembly began with the approval on making addenda to the agenda of the draft decision of the National Assembly of the third session and of the agenda of the four sittings. Then the MPs adopted by voting 20 draft laws, debated in the previous sitting and ratified 1 international treaty.

Mr. Tigran Torosyan, President of he National Assembly, said that upon the initiative of six dozens of MPs an extraordinary session will be convened for debating the bill on Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law On Conducting Meetings, Assemblies, Rallies and Demonstrations on March 17 at 18.30 p.m., 2008.

The bill on Making Amendments to the RA Law on Payment, Service and Provision of Safety of the President of the Republic of Armenia was debated, which was submitted by Mr. Gevorg Danielyan, Minister of Justice. The apartment is given on the property right, and the transport is given for lifelong use. The financing of the activity of the office of the retired President of the Republic of Armenia will be realized on the account of state budget means. Maximum 3 staff units are envisaged for the office, which are included in the staff list of the President of the Republic of Armenia. The payments of the retired President’s tours to other countries (not more than twice a year) are compensated on the account of state budget means. Personal lifelong state protection is also provided to the retired President of the Republic of Armenia.

The MP Mr. Artyush Shahbazyan presented the endorsement of the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs of the National Assembly.

The MPs also debated the agreement on Financing the Project between the Republic of Armenia and international Fund of Rural Development (Marketing Opportunity to the Farmers), Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Incomes through Criminal Way and Fighting against Financing of Terrorism, and the bills submitted for the second reading on Making Addenda and Amendments to the RA Law on the Warrant of the Compensation of Bank Investments of Physical Persons and on Making Addenda to the RA Law on Bankruptcy of the Banking, Credit Organizations and Insurance Companies (package) and on making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Code on Administrative Offences (identical two drafts).

Mr. Gevorg Danielyan, Minister of Justice, also presented the bill on Making Amendment and Addendum to the RA Law on Provision of Security of the Persons Subject to Special State Defense.

Mr. Artur Aghabekyan, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs of the National Assembly, presented the endorsement related to the debated issue.

In their speeches the MPs also expressed concern that some provisions of the proposed amendments need to be clarified. It is also necessary to avoid legislative situational solutions.

The National Assembly will continue the debate of the bill at March 18 sitting.