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On February 25 the National Assembly began the work of the next four-day sittings.

Before turning to the agenda items the opposition deputies proposed to debate the post-electoral processes. The ANC faction deputy Nikol Pashinyan in particular proposed to begin the four-day sittings with the debate of the report of the Central Electoral Commission on 2012 parliamentary elections, in that context also touching upon the presidential elections.

By the proposal of the standing committees of the parliament the formed agenda, by the proposal of the NA President Hovik Abrahamyan, gives no opportunity to organize a debate on the recent elections. However, the Head of the Parliament proposed the factions to elect together a format of debating post-electoral processes. Hovik Abrahamyan has underlined that the National Assembly is a tribune of plurality, and all the political forces have an opportunity of expressing views.

The Head of the Heritage faction Rubik Hakobyan agreed with the NA President’s proposal and expressed readiness for open debate. The NA President deemed admissible the proposal of holding a debate with public format.

The Head of the parliament firstly presented to the deputies the draft laws of the decisions on amending the session, then also the agenda of the four-day sittings. After approving them the deputies also passed a number of bills debated in the previous four-day sittings.

The debate of the draft law “On Amending the Law on Electronic Communication” was finalized.

The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Artem Asatryan proposed the deputies to pass in the second reading the draft law “On Amending the Law on the RA President’s Payment, Service and National Security” and related draft laws.

The NA Standing Committee on Social Affairs endorsed the package and the Committee Chairman Hakob Hakobyan proposed to pass it.

The Minister also presented another draft law, the initiative of the government “On Amending the Law on State Pensions.”

The Head of the State Migration Service of the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration Gagik Yeganyan submitted for debate in the first reading the bill “On Amending the RA Law on RA Citizenship.”

The NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs endorsed the bill, presented by Edmon Marukyan.

Arpine Hovhannisyan submitted for debate in the first reading the bill “On Amending the RA Law on Copyright and Related Rights.”

The member of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs Karen Chshmarityan presented the endorsement of the committee.

The parliament debated in the procedure of the second reading the bill “On Amending the RA Law on Tourism and Tourism Activity.”

Garegin Nushikyan presented the endorsement of the NA Standing Committee on Economic Affairs.

The deputies debated in the first reading the package of bills “On Amending the RA Law on Precious Stones” and “On Amending the RA Code on Administrative Infringements” presented by the RA Deputy Finance Minister Ara Petrosyan.

Then the parliament in the first reading debated the legislative initiative “On Amending the RA Labor Code.”

The Committee Chairman Hakob Hakobyan and the RA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Artem Asatryan presented the endorsement.

The parliament debated the agreement “On Cooperation Aimed at the Development between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Republic of Austria” signed in Yerevan on June 26, 2012, which presented the RA Deputy Minister of Finance Vardan Aramyan.

The RA Deputy Finance Minister Suren Karayan presented the protocol “On Amending the Agreement of December 28, 1996 On Eliminating the Double Taxation of the Incomes and Property between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Russian Federation” signed in Moscow on October 24, 2011.

The RA Deputy Minister of Economy Garegin Melkonyan presented the Convention “Transit Trade of the Landlocked States” signed in New York on July 8, 1965.

The RA Deputy Minister of RA Territorial Administration Vache Terteryan presented the additional protocol “On the Right of Participation in Local Self-Government Bodies” of the European Charter of the Local Self-Government signed in Utrecht on November 16, 2009.

The Head committees endorsed the debated international treaties.

The National Assembly will continue the work of the four-day sittings on February 26.