On September 27 RA NA extraordinary session began, submitted drafts for the third reading were put on the agenda “On Amending RA Constitution and ‘On the Referendum” and “On Making Amendments and Additions to RA law: by NA decision the second draft law after adopting through the first reading, during 24 hours, will be passed through the second and third reading.

Before the passing of the agenda issues, the NA deputy Victor Dallakyan suggested to make the video and broadcast on public TV the extraordinary session, which the National Assembly rejected by voting.

Hrayr Karapetyan, MP, co-author of the draft law presented the draft submitted for the first reading “On the Referendum” On Making Amendments and Additions to RA law. According to the speaker, the adoption of the draft is agreed by the conformity with RA Electoral Code. The amendments were related to the organization of the works of the committees, the voting order, the use of the financial means, the formation of the ballots, the ballot boxes, the deadline of the return of the stamp, summing up the results of the votes.

By voting the MPs adopted the draft “On the Referendum” On Making Amendments and Additions to RA law in the first reading.

The NA deputy Mher Shahgeldyan presented the draft amendments to RA Constitution were submitted for the third reading. He informed that during the period from the second reading till the third reading only amendments of editorial character were made, the meaning of which is conditioned by the importance of the Basic Law. Mher Shahgeldyan also once more stressed the role of the constitutional amendments in the political and economic development of the country.

Tigran Torosyan, NA Vice President gave an adjacent speech and also highlighted the constitutional amendments raising the position of Armenia to the new level in the European family, from the viewpoint of integrating to it and development of democracy. Mr. Torosyan noted that the importance of the amendments in the Constitution should be reached to the people, explained the role and meaning of those amendments.

Armen Harutiunyan, representative of RA President highly estimated the draft from the viewpoint of the state construction, considering it a step from the semi-presidential governing to the parliamentary-governing.

The MP Hrayr Karapetyan presented the draft submitted in the second reading “On the Referendum” On Making Amendments and Additions to RA law, basically stopping the suggestions of MP Arshak Sadoyan, “Justice,” “National Unity” factions’. He informed that the authors adopted the proposals on not using ballot boxes, and as well as keeping the right on making the speech of the Committee Chairman or the members every three hour on the current result of the referendum. The proposals on not giving the right to campaign to those occupying civil and contemplative posts, on providing broadcast by Public Radio and TV free of charge to the factions and on the referendum by civil initiative.

In their speeches the MPs Victor Dallakyan, Aram Sargsyan and Arshak Sadoyan again insisted on that the civil initiative of the referendum doesn’t contradict RA Constitution, the Constitution gives such opportunity.

The viewpoint of the faction RPA, concerning the debated issue, presented head of the faction Galust Sahakyan. He noted that the attempt of the opposition to use the opportunity of the campaign is natural, but if he doesn’t agree with the authors, can speak by separate initiative. The proposed amendments “On the Referendum to RA law” emanate from the reality, and the faction will vote for the submitted draft.

NA Vice President Tigran Torosyan also considered natural expressing the opposition’s alternative opinion, but considered unacceptable to speak in the name of the people, putting them in misunderstanding. Mr. Torosyan noted that there are unclear wordings, which need precision, so suggested to delay the voting till the next day.

On September 28, at 12 the National Assembly will continue works of the extraordinary session.