YEREVAN, OCTOBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. NT was informed from the RA National Assembly PR Department that the sittings of the Standing Commission on Science and Education and the Standing Commission on Economic and Financial Issues of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly (IA) were held on October 5 in Yerevan. Mikhail Krotov, Secretary General of the IA Council, said the drafts discussed will be put on the agenda of the Assembly's plenary session to be held in Saint Petersburg on November 18. The first sitting of the Standing Commission on Science and Education covered the moral and legal aspects of biomedical studies conducted in CIS member states. The sitting was in essence the international conference's first part attended by representatives of international organizations conducting research in the field, as well as by European and US experts. The speakers addressed the international legislation on genetic studies and underlined the necessity to create an appropriate legislative field in CIS member states. In his speech, Maurisio Salvi of the European Commission discussed issues of genetic tests, which, in his words, are of great significance for further development of science. They are interesting from the political point of view as well: the science on life and biotechnology is of paticular strategical importance to Europe and ranks second on the list of priorities after high technoligies. It was noted that the democratic society must ensure that it will not be used for immoral purposes or in violation of basic human rights. The creation of a gene bank, according to M. Salvi, requires the citizen's consent and should be done in conditions of confidentiality and human rights protection. Organizational issues and model laws of CIS countries were discussed at the second sitting of the Commission. The Commission made positive conclusions about the model bills on innovation activities and on status of educational worker. The discussion of the bill on nonstate higher educational institutions was postponed on the grounds that the sphere is successfully regulated by the Law on Education in some of the CIS member states. Issues related to humanitarian cooperation and scientific and educational integration were discussed by the Commission as well. Positive decisions on the model bills on the state reserve and on bankruptcy of banks were taken at the sitting of the CIS IA Standing Commission on Economic and Financial Issues. The issue of applying model laws in economy and the financial sector of the CIS IA member states was also on the agenda. The participants indicated that model laws encourage exchange of experience, and no need "to invent a new bicycle" arises every time. The regular sitting of the Commission will be held in February-March 2006 in Saint Petersburg.

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