YEREVAN, DECEMBER 01, NOYAN TAPAN. On the initiative of the RA NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Issues, enlarged parliamentary hearings dedicated to the draft "On Lobbying Activity" were held on November 30. According to Rafik Petrosian, the Committee Chairman, 10 public organizations officially turned to the committee speaking against the draft. They consider adoption of the draft untimely and incompatible with the European standards, limiting the lobbying activity, etc. The Chairman of the parliamentary committee stated that the NA Department on Analysis and Development of Legislation and the RA Central Bank also presented serious observations and proposals. R.Petrosian expressed an opinion that adoption of the law will become a serious obstacle for citizens in the sense of freely responding events taking place on the legislative field, presenting their viewpoint to the deputy: citizens will have to spend money and turn to lobbyists' organizations to address the NA. According to him, today when those interested are in the Parliament themselves, there is no need of organizations occupied with lobbying activity. Representatives of the RA Government and the NA "ARF" faction who are the co-authors of the draft didn't agree with R.Petrosian. Hrayr Karapetian, the Secreatry of the "ARF" faction mentioned that the draft creates conditions for public organizations, individual entreprenuers, businessmen are able to implement a lobbying activity at a law-making body in fixed order. Besides, according to him, the draft comes out of the anti-corruption strategy adopted by the Government. "It's inadmissible for me that a businessman, leaving his work, sits at the Parliament and protects his economic interests," H.Karapetian said adding that those lobbyists with who businessmen deputies will sign an agreement may protect those interests in a more qualified and professional way.

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