On April 27, the parliamentary hearings initiated by the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs were held, the topic of which was the draft law adopted by the first reading “On Making Additions and Amendments to RA law “On Local Self-Government Bodies.” Besides this draft law a similar draft law was also discussed, which foresees amendments to RA law on “Prosecutor’s Office” which is connected with the activity of local self-government bodies. Rafik Petrosyan, the Chairman of the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs, noted that the aim of the hearings is to know the positions and viewpoints of the representatives of the spheres of the discussed draft laws, which will enable to improve the quality of the activity of local self-government bodies through a law.

Artur Baghdasaryan, NA Speaker, in his speech mentioned that the amendments of local self-government is one of the responsibilities undertaken before the Council of Europe and it is important that before implementing them they are heard and the viewpoints of the heads of the communities, heads of regional government bodies, representatives are taken into consideration.

NA Speaker emphasized the hearings from the viewpoint of constitutional amendments taking into consideration the fact that constitutional amendments also concern to local self-government bodies. NA Speaker said that especially there is a suggestion to elect the heads of the communities for four years instead of three, and the position of Yerevan Mayor should be selected.

Vache Terteryan, Deputy Minister for Coordination of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Operations, mentioned that the amendments foreseen in the law “On Local Self-Government Bodies” have two main goals – to enlarge the role of the community council in the communities and regulate the relations between local self-government bodies and state bodies.

The speaker informed that concerning the draft law passed the first reading the opinion of the experts of the Council of Europe is positive, their remarks have been taken into consideration. Referring to the issue of creating inter-community associations, Mr. Terteryan noted that many of 930 communities of the republic are so small that local self-government is not implemented properly, thus the communities should enlarge, which is inconvenient in this situation, or inter-community associations should be created with a principle of volunteer, the jurisdiction of which is also given to the government by the draft law.

Pavel Safaryan, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy, presented the financial relations in local self- government bodies and inter-community associations. According to the Deputy Minister, it is important that a corresponding law on this issue should be adopted.

Gevorg Malkhasyan, Deputy Minister of Justice, in his speech mentioned that the implementation of the administrative supervision in local self-government bodies is separated into two parts – legal and professional.

Armen Danielyan, member of NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs, co-reporter, emphasized the changes in articles on realizing administrative supervision.

The speakers then answered to the questions of the ones who were present.

Summarizing the discussion, Rafik Petrosyan, the Chairman of the committee, said that the submitted remarks and suggestions will be discussed with the Government and will be taken into consideration.

MPs, regional governors, mayors, heads of communities, representatives of NGOs were present at the hearings.