Hovik Abrahamyan: “What’s going on?”
The National Assembly continued its session today and put the draft laws discussed yesterday up for a vote.
Before putting the draft law on amendments in the government's law "On Property Tax" up for a vote by the first reading, the deputies expressed their concerns about the privileges given to the church according to this draft law.
PAP ("Bargavach Hayastan") MP Vardan Bostanjyan noted that "there may be decisions made at lower levels and another 20-30 hectares of land will be added to the 1 hectare required for the church and would cover the country."
Mr. Bostanjyan suggested presenting proposals for limiting the list of land areas, fields and other properties given to the church before the second reading.
PAP member Naira Zohrabyan recalled that the government official that presented the draft law was also concerned.
NA Chairman Hovik Abrahamyan also agreed with the PAP MPs' considerations, but that didn't stop the MPs from voting for the privileges granted to the Armenian Apostolic Church by the law "On Property Tax" by a first reading with 74 for, 5 against and 3 neutral.
After passing the draft laws, the NA continued discussing the draft law on amendments foreseen in the law "On State Registration of the Rights to Property". Member of the NA economic committee Ara Nranyan tried to give a report, but was interrupted by the MPs. To calm the MPs down, the NA Chairman was forced to intervene. "What's going on? Let the man present. Stop talking."
