YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The package of additions proposed to the RA laws "On Scientific and Scientific-Technical Activity," "Higher and Post-Graduate Professional Education" and "On Education" authored by NA Deputies Levon Mkrtchian, Armen Rustamian, Galust Sahakian, Vahan Hovhannisian, Rudik Hovsepian, Grigor Ghonjeyan, Vahram Baghdasarian, Alvard Petrosian, Vostanik Marukhian was discussed at the February 1 sitting of the RA NA Standing Committee on Science, Education and Youth Issues. Law co-author Levon Mkrtchian informed that the necessity of the presented legislative initiative is provided by the circumstance that teaching of the Armenian Language and Armenological subjects isn't implemented properly in the sphere of education during the last years, as a result of what the level of teaching those subjects reduced, consequantly, the profundity of knowledge given to students reduced as well. The proposed additions will assist for the Armenian Language and Armenological subjects aren't ignored by corresponding programs of education. The authors propose in the RA law "On Scientific and Scientific-Technical Activity" a clear policy of state sponsorship on Armenology and adoption of programs on developing Armenology; in the RA law "On Higher and Post-Graduate Professional Education" to teach the Armenian Language and History of Armenian People at least during two terms and finish them with a quiz or exam, irrespective of the type of ownership of the institution of higher education; and in the RA law "On Education" to end teaching of the Armenian Language and History of Armenian People subjects in middle and high school with compulsory final exams. By a votion, the committee made a positive conclusion concerning the draft for putting this on the draft agenda of the coming four-days sittings of the National Assembly by first reading. Hranush Hakobian, the Committee Chairwoman expressed a hope that the addition proposed to the law "On Education" deserved the RA Government's negative estimations till the second reading will be again discussed and a bilaterally acceptable version will be presented. Armen Gevorgian, the RA Deputy Minister of Trade and Economy Development, presented drafts "On Copyright and Adjacent Rights," "On Making Amendments and Additions to RA Civil Code" and "On Making Amendments to RA Criminal Code" which regulate copyrights of works of literature, science, art spheres, rights of producing sound-recorders, films, artists, broadcasting organizations, publishers, those preparing data bases. During the discussion, the committee members pointed out in the draft law short-comings connected with technical, contents, usage mechanisms which were mainly accepted by the speaker who expressed readiness to improve the draft till the second reading taking into account the proposals. The committee also made a positive conclusion on drafts on making amendments and additions to the RA laws "On Recontruction of Disaster Zone," "On Scientific and Scientific-Technical Activity," "On Principles of Cultural Legislation," "On Lake Sevan," "On Drugs and Psychotropics," "On Fauna," "On Bording Regions," "On Physical Education and Sports," "On Education," "On Flora," "On RA Invalids' Social Defence," "On Children's Right," on making amendments to the RA law "On Creative Workers and Creative Unions," "On 2005-2007 Program of Privatization of State Property," "On Making Additions to RA Law on "Higher and Post-Graduate Professional Education," "On Making Additions to RA Law "On Electronic Communication," to the second report of 1954 Hague convention on defence of cultural values during armed conflicts, to the agreement on cooperation in the education sphere between the RA Ministry of Education and Science and the RF Ministry of Education and Science. By Committee Chairwoman Hranush Hakobian's proposal and authors' agreement, the committee decided to postpone discussion of two drafts of the same title "On Libraries and Library Activity" presented by the RA Government and NA Deputies Heghine Bisharian, Samvel Balasanian, Mekhak Mkhitarian and Hovhannes Margarian and hold parliamentary hearings connected with the issue on February 22 to listen to specialists' opinions and work out a brief and complete draft with joint efforts. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA NA Public Relations Department, discussions of 13 drafts put on the agenda by the authors' proposal were postponed as well.

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