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On March 2, on the initiative of the RA NA Standing Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environment a working discussion on the draft law on Disaster Risk Management and Defense of Population was held, where representatives from the RA Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES), the Crisis Management State Academy, the UN Armenia Office, the experts, the lawyers and the MPs took part.

Highlighting the debates in such format the Chair of the RA NA Standing Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environment Varazdat Karapetyan has noted that it is necessary to specify the changes being designed in the functions of the local self-government and territorial administration bodies.

Presenting the main principles of the draft law the Chancellor of the MES Crisis Management State Academy, General-Mayor Hamlet Matevosyan noted that voluminous work had been done and realistic approaches had been predetermined. Hamlet Matevosyan distinguished three important directions: the reduction of disaster risks, the quick response in emerged situations, and the implementation of the works directed to the post-disaster restoration.

In Varazdat Karapetyan’s opinion, relevant legislative amendments should be made to the RA laws on Territorial Administration and Local Self-Government.

The participants of the debate exchanged ideas over the problem strategy, the revision of training courses, seismic risk modeling and creating information united association.

Summing up the discussion the Committee Chair proposed the participants to create a working group with the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures and distinctly define the functions and the role of every structure.