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The RA National Assembly, under Article 70 of the RA Constitution, at the NA deputies’ initiative, on November 28 convened NA extraordinary sitting, where the draft law on Parties, on Human Rights Defender and the enclosed legislative package, the draft laws the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly and on the RA National Assembly Deputy’s Activity Guarantees were included in the agenda.

According to the NA decision, it is designed to hold in the first day of the extraordinary sitting three sittings with one and a half hour duration: the duration of the first interval is one hour, the second interval – half an hour. Beginning from the next day every day four sittings with one and a half hour duration will be convened; the sittings will begin at 11:00, and the duration of every interval is half an hour.

The RA First Minister of Justice Artur Hovhannisyan in the first reading submitted for debate of the parliament the constitutional draft law on Human Rights Defender with the enclosed legislative package.

The Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs Elinar Vardanyan submitted the endorsement of the Committee. She noted that the draft law repeatedly was debated in different formats, and recommendations were received by the NGOs.

The NA deputies Tevan Poghosyan, Hovhannes Margaryan and Levon Dokholyan expressed their viewpoints on the package.

Afterwards the RA Minister of Justice Arpine Hovhannisyan in the first reading submitted to the deputies’ debate the draft law on parties, which to the Minister’s word, had been repeatedly debated and sent to the international expertise.

The key reporter answered the deputies’ questions, which related to the establishment of the party system, the amendments being designed in the order of the parties’ state registration, the process of the parties’ dissolution, having territorial subdivisions by the parties and the donations given to the parties.

The Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs Elinar Vardanyan submitted the endorsement of the Committee. She noted that the draft law had been thoroughly debated in the Committee, numerous questions were raised, and a number of recommendations had been presented. The Committee Chair expressed hope that the realistic recommendations will be included in the draft law from the first to the second reading.

The NA deputies Stepan Demirchyan, Edmon Marukyan, Naira Zohrabyan, Khosrov Harutyunyan, Aram Manukyan, Levon Martirosyan, Artak Zakaryan, Ruzanna Muradyan and Samvel Farmanyan expressed their viewpoints on the item.

The RA NA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov delivered extraordinary speech on the draft law. Highlighting the issue under debate, the NA Deputy Speaker has noted that the role of the parties in the parliamentary government system is very important.

The parliament will continue the work of the extraordinary sitting on November 29.