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On February 28 the parliament continued the work of the four-day sittings.

Before turning to the agenda, the President of the National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan called on the deputies to pay tribute to the memory of our compatriots who fell victims of Sumgait and Baku killings with one-minute silence: “Dear deputies, today is the 25^th year of Sumgait events. In the Azerbaijani city of Sumgait resided by Armenians a crime was organized and committed at state level, as a consequence of which hundreds of residents of Armenian origin, scores of our compatriots were subjected to violence and forcibly displaced. In Sumgait and after two years in Baku a real genocide was perpetrated towards Armenians, which was a consequence of Azerbaijani phobia and, in particular, Armenophobia. Phenomena, which today continue at the level of authorities, get support in Azerbaijan,” said the President of the National Assembly.

Then the deputies continued to discuss the package of draft laws “On Amending the RA law on Alternative Service” and ”On Putting into Action the RA Criminal Code”.

Naira Zohrabyan, the Secretary of the PAP, in her speech on the package has underlined that the issue under debate is too sensible.

Mher Shahgeldyan, the Secretary of the Rule of Law has mentioned that the draft law is related to such important issues for Armenia as the security of the state, providing moral-psychological atmosphere in the army and preparing military-patriotic generation.

According to Deputy Edmon Marukyan’s word, the problem mostly refers to human rights.

The Vice President of the National Assembly Edward Sharmazanov delivered an extraordinary speech on the package of bills. In his word, there is no other opinion that in Armenia the freedom of religion, conscience of belief should be honored.

The co-speaker, Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs Koryun Nahapetyan summed up the debates of the package of draft laws submitted in the first reading and thanked all the participants for the debate.

The deputy proposed to formulate all proposals, thoughts in written form with their substantiations, and before second reading the committee would have a series of debates in different formats and parliamentary hearings would also be held. Koryun Nahapetyan also touched upon the deputies’ speeches and opinions, which secured diversity of views.

The key speaker, Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan delivered final speech.

Then the parliament in the first reading debated the draft law “On Amending the RA Criminal Code.”

The member of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs Edmon Marukyan noted that the bill had been debated in the Committee and endorsed.

The NA deputies gave speeches on the issue under debate and presented their proposals and remarks.

The key speaker Hrayr Tovmasyan touched upon the deputies’ interpellations and gave clarifications.

The parliament in the procedure of the second reading debated the bill “On Amending the RA Law on Copyright and Related Rights.”

Then the deputies debated the amendment of the Convention “On Physical Protection of Nuclear Substance” signed on July 8 2005, which presented Ashot Martirosyan, Chairman of the RA State Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee adjunct to RA Government.

The member of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Vahan Babayan presented endorsement of the Committee.

Ashot Martirosyan in the first reading submitted for debate the package of bill “On Amending the RA Law on Safe Use of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purposes” and “On Amending the RA Law on Organization and Conduct of the Check-ups in the Republic of Armenia.”

The Deputy Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Economic Affairs Mikael Melkumyan presented the endorsement.

The National Assembly also debated the RA draft law “On Amending RA Law on State Duty,” which presented the RA Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan.

The President of the National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan proposed the authorized representative of the RA Government to submit a certificate before the second reading, where the bases of pricing of electronic passports would be substantiated.

In his final speech the key speaker assured that the competent bodies would submit a certificate to the deputies on the problems concerning them.

The deputies also debated the treaty “On Patent Right” signed on June 1, 2000 and the agreement “On Encouragement of Investments and Mutual Protection between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the State of Kuwait and the Singapore treaty on the Right of Goods Brands signed on March 28, 2006.

The National Assembly ended the work of the four-day sittings.