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On April 22, the Chair of the RA NA Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs Elinar Vardanyan received the Head of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Armenia Ambassador Piotr Switalski and the EU Political Officer Andrea Chalupova.

At the meeting a number of issues concerning the draft law on NGOs authored by the RA Government were discussed. The Committee Chair Elinar Vardanyan has informed that the draft law with the endorsement is included in the draft law agenda of the ninth session of the NA fifth convocation: it is designed that in future it will also be included in the draft agenda of the NA four-day sittings. In the Committee Chair’s word, debates were held on the legislative initiative, all constructive proposals and remarks were taken into consideration, as a result, the draft law in this form is admissible for all concerned sides. According to Mrs Vardanyan, there are still some controversial provisions, and the debates of their specification continue.

Thanking the Committee Chair for the reception Mr Switalski highlighted the quick adoption of the draft law, as the implementation of a series of EU programmes in Armenia depends on it. He highly assessed the RA draft law on NGOs, noting that the European standards were kept in it, unlike EEC some countries, where an attempt was made to decrease the role of the NGOs.

The EU Ambassador also considered necessary to include a provision in the draft law, which will provide the accessibility of the judicial justice and the possibility of addressing the court for the NGOs, in connection of it the Committee Chair Elinar Vardanyan has informed that this issue is at the centre of attention of the Committee. 

In the course of the meeting the sides also touched upon the draft law of the new RA Electoral Code. The Head of the EU Delegation to the RA Ambassador Piotr Switalski considered necessary to continue the dialogue between the political forces. He expressed hope that the new RA Electoral Code will provide the holding of the just and transparent elections.