On September 9The NA Standing Committees’ sittings were held.

At the sitting of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations presided by Armen Rustamyan, the Chairman of the Committee, Aghvan Vardanyan, the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs presented to the discussion of the Committee the “Weekly Rest (in the sphere of industry)” Convention signed in Geneva on November 11, 1921 “The Creation of Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery” Convention signed in Geneva on June 6, 1973, the “On Minimum Age” Convention (with enclosed announcement) signed in Geneva on June 6, 1973, the revised “Holidays with Pay” Convention (with enclosed announcement) signed in Geneva on June 24,1970. With the endorsement of the Committee the conventions will be presented to the ratification of the NA.

Andranik Manukyan, the Minister of Transport and Communication presented the treaty “On the Cooperation of CIS Countries in the sphere of automobile freight forwarding (with enclosed objection)” which was adopted in Yalta on September 18, 2003.

The committee discussed the protocol “On Excluding from the Free Trade Regime being Carried out in the Protocol on Excluding from the Free Trade Regime between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and Republic of Belarus attached to the Agreement on the Free Trade between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and Republic of Belarus on January 18, 2000, which presented Ara Petrosyan, Deputy Minister of Trade and Economic Development.

Davit Avetisyan, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Finance and Economy presented to the MPs the amendment of the first article of the founding treaty of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which was adopted according to the decision of 30 January, 2004 and signed on May 29, 1990.

During the sitting were also discussed the Convention # 143 of the International Labor Organization “On Migrant Workers (additional provisions)” signed in Geneva on June 24, 1975, the Convention #118 (with enclosed announcement) “Equality of Treatment (Social Security)” signed in Geneva on June 28, 1962, the revised Convention # 97 of the International Labor Organization “Migration for Employment (with enclosed announcement)” signed in Geneva on July 1, 1949. The conventions were presented by Gagik Yeganyan, the head of the State Department for Migration and Refugees of the Republic of Armenia.

With the endorsement of the Committee the discussed conventions will be put on the draft agendas of the four-day sittings of September 12-15 and the sixth session of the third convocation of NA.

During the sitting of the NA Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs, which was presided by Mher Shahgeldyan, the Chairman of the Committee, Areg Galstyan, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Energy presented to discussion of the Committee in the first reading the draft law “On Making Addenda to the RA Law On The Protection of Population In Case of Emergency Situations.”

The Committee also discussed in the second reading and gave its endorsement to the draft law “On Making Amendments and Additions to the RA Code On Administrative Offences,” which was presented by Tigran Mukuchyan, the Deputy Justice Minister of RA.

Ararat Mahtesyan, the Deputy Chief of Police presented the draft law “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law On Police.”

With the endorsement of the Committee the package of the following draft laws will be put on the agendas of the sixth session of the third convocation and the four-day sittings of NA on September 12-15: “On Making Addendum to the RA Law On State Awards,” “On Making Amendments and Addendum to the RA Law On Services in Battle a Cross Order,” “On Making Amendment and Addendum to the RA Law On “Tigran Mets Order,” “On Making Amendment and Addendum to the RA Law On “Vardan Mamikonyan” Order,” “On Making Amendment to the Law On Medal “For Services Rendered To Fatherland.” It creates the possibility to award with state orders also the military units.

The NA Standing Committee on Financial-Credit, Budgetary and Economic Affairs with the presidency of Gagik Minasyan discussed the bill “On Veterinary Medicine,” which was presented by Samvel Avetisyan, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Mr. Avetisyan presented also the suggested amendments to the laws “On State Duty” and “On Value Added Tax.”

The Committee endorsed the three draft laws for being put on the agenda of the upcoming four-day sittings.

According to Armen Gevorgyan, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, the bill “On State Regulation of Providing Technical Security” defines the concept of a dangerous production entity. The presented bill was guaranteed with an endorsement for being discussed during the four-day sittings.

There were disagreements in the committee concerning the draft law “On Making Amendments to the RA Law On The List of Goods Imported By Individual Entrepreneurs and Organizations That are Not Subject To Excise Tax and Have 0 Rate of Duty And On Which The Customs Do Not Calculate And Collect Value Added Tax.” Tigran Khachatryan presented the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Finance and Economy the draft law. Though the Committee’s opinion about the draft law was negative, according to the law “NA Rules Of Procedure,” it will be discussed during the upcoming four-day sittings.

The committee discussed and guaranteed for being put on the agenda of the four- day sittings also the draft laws “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law On State Duty,” “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law On Regulation of The Securities Market,” “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law On Value Added Tax,” “On Making Amendments And Addenda to the RA Law On Technical Control in The Energy System and in the Sphere of Electricity Consumption,” “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Civil Code” “On Making Addenda To The RA Law on Secure Use of Nuclear Energy with Peaceful Purposes,” “On Making Amendments to the RA Law On Precious Metals,” “Making Amendments to the RA Law On Energy,” “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Water Code,” “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law On Gambling and Casinos” and the treaty “On the Cooperation of CIS Countries in the Sphere of Automobile Freight Forwarding (with enclosed objection).”

The Committee delayed the discussion of the 27 draft laws on the agenda, and the draft laws “On Making Addendum to the RA Law On Formulating the Organizations’ and Companies’ Debts on Taxes towards the State Budget as Tax Debts,”“On making Addendum to the RA Law On Value Added Tax,” “On Making Addendum to the RA Law On Supplementary Means of Financing State Expenses in the Sphere of Education” presented by Viktor Dallakyan were removed from circulation according to the author’s agreement.

The NA Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Healthcare and Environment presided by Gagik Mkheyan, The Chairman of the Committee discussed 20 draft laws, 8 of which were delayed.

Rafik Petrosyan, NA MP presented the draft law “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Labour Code.”

Karen Chshmaritian, the Minister of Trade and Economic Development presented the draft law “On Making Amendment to the RA Labor Code.”

The Committee guaranteed those draft laws for being put on the big agenda.

Armen Alaverdyan, the Deputy of the State Tax Service presented the draft law “On Making Amendments and Addendum on Obligatory Payments of Social Security”. This draft law was put on the draft big agenda with an endorsement.

Simon Papyan, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Environmental Protection presented the draft law “On making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Water Code.” The committee endorsed the draft law for being put on the draft big agenda.

Aghvan Vardanyan, the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs presented the draft laws “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law On State Allowances,” “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law on Social Assistance,” “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law on the Remuneration of Civil Servants,” “On Making Addenda to the RA Law On Social Security of the Population in Case of Employment and Unemployment,” “On Making Addenda to the RA Law On Administrative Offences” authored by the government. The Committee endorsed the draft laws for being put on the draft big agenda.

Karlen Gevorgyan, the Deputy Minister of Urban Development presented the bill “On Organizing Funerals and Operating Cemeteries and Crematories.” The bill was endorsed by the Committee for being put on agenda of the four-day sittings.

The draft law “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Civil Code” presented by Manuk Vardanyan, the Chairman of the State Committee of the Real Estate Cadastre was endorsed by the Committee for being discussed in the second reading during the four-day sittings.

The draft law “On the RA Forest Code” presented by the government is the main document that regulates the forest relations of the republic. The draft law was endorsed by the committee for being put on the draft agenda of the four-day sittings.

At the sitting of the NA Standing Committee presided by Rafik Petrosyan, 14 bills and 5 conventions were discussed and endorsed for being put on the agenda of the NA autumn session or the four-day sittings.

Tigran Mukuchyan, the Deputy Minister of Justice presented in the first reading the draft law “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Criminal Procedure Code” authored by the government.

Arcvik Minasyan, the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs presented in the first reading the draft law“On Remuneration of Civil Servants” authored by the government.

Karen Chshmaritian, the Minister of Trade and Economic Development presented the draft law “On Making Amendment to the RA Labor Code” authored by the government.

Tigran Mukuchyan, the Deputy Justice Minister presented in the first reading the draft law “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law On the Service Providing the Compulsory Execution of Judicial Acts.”

The Deputy Justice Minister also presented in the first reading the draft laws submitted by the government “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Civil Code,” “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Criminal Procedure Code,” “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law On the Compulsory Execution of Judicial Acts,” “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Criminal Code,” “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law on Administrative Offences,” “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Criminal Executive Code.”

Tigran Mukuchyan, the Deputy Justice Minister presented in the first reading the draft law “On Making Addenda to the RA Civil Procedure Code” submitted by the government.

Arcvik Minasyan, the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs presented in the first reading the draft laws “On Making Amendments and Addendum to the RA Law on Obligatory Social Security in Case of Temporary Incapability,” “On Making Amendments and Addendum to the RA labor Code,” “On Making Addendum to the RA Law on Tax Service.”

MP Vladimir Badalyan presented in the first reading the draft law “On Organizing Funerals and Operating Cemeteries and Crematories.”

MP Armen Danielyan presented in the first reading the draft law “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Labor Code.”

Rafik Petrosyan, the Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs presented the draft law “On Making Amendment to the RA Labor Code.”

The following conventions submitted by RA President to NA were discussed: the Convention #118 “Equality of Treatment (Social Security)” signed in Geneva on June 28, 1962, the Convention # 146 of the International Labor Organization “About Migrant Workers” signed in Geneva on June 24, 1975, “The Creation of Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery” Convention signed in Geneva on June 6, 1973, the “Weekly Rest (industry)” Convention signed in Geneva on November 11, 1921, the revised “Holidays with Pay” Convention signed in Geneva on June 24, 1970, the revised Convention # 97 of the International Labor Organization “Migration for Employment.” The Conventions were endorsed by the committee and put on the agenda of the four-day sittings.

According to the suggestion of MP Galust Sahakyan the issue of absentees of the MPs was removed from the agenda.

The draft laws “On Making Amendment to the RA Criminal Procedure Code,” “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Civil Code,” “On Making Amendments to the RA Code of Administrative Offences,” “On Recognizing the Housing Code As Not Being In Effect,” “On Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Code of Administrative Offences” were endorsed by the Committee for being discussed during the four-day sittings with a second reading.

According to the decision of the Committee, the discussion of 7 bills was delayed for 30 days.