Armenian parliament adopts law on funded pensionsJune 21, 2014 - 16:45 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - By 67 to 0, with no abstentions, Armenia’s National Assembly has approved, in the first reading, the draft amendments to the law on funded pensions. The procedure was marred by tensions, with the parliamentary majority and opposition forces insulting each other, Tert.am reports. Before the vote, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Artem Adatryan said that the document underwent certain changes; specifically the ‘mandatory funded pension’ term was replaced by ‘funded pension’. When the parliament speaker Galust Sahakyan asked the MPs to vote, the representatives of four non-coalition forces left the assembly hall, stating the bill was approved with violations of the rules of procedure. “We demand that our rights are respected. When the MPs ask for a 20-minute break, the request should be satisfied,” member of ARF Dashnaktsutyun Aghvan Vardanyan said. Another ARFD member, Artsvik Minasyan said that the ARFD parliamentary group boycotted the vote in line with the party’s position on the matter. He also accused the majority of violating the NA charter and forging the voting results. The opposition parties issued a joint statement regarding violations during the voting process. “We declare the voting results invalid and will continue our struggle,” Naira Zohrabyan of Prosperous Armenia party said, when presenting the document. Meanwhile, ARFD proposed 15 basic principles for creation of a new pension system in Armenia. Related links: Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. |