Armenian parliament approves relocation of president to appropriate residence
22.11.2018,
12:02
The National Assembly of Armenia passed Thursday at the second final reading amendments to the law on state service and a package of some related laws.
YEREVAN, November 22. /ARKA/. The National Assembly of Armenia passed Thursday at the second final reading amendments to the law on state service and a package of some related laws.
On November 8, the government gave its approval to these legislative changes.
The amendments imply the return of the presidential residence from Mashtots Avenue to Baghramyan Avenue, where now one of the prime-minister’s residences is located, and the prime minister will move to the government building in the Republic Square, as it was before.
"The government thinks that the Armenian prime minister can run and coordinate the activities of the government members in one residence,” Arthur Hovhannisyan, the acting deputy justice minister, said presenting the bill to the lawmakers. “We also find it reasonable to return the historical Baghramyan 26 building to the president, who, in accordance with the constitutional changes, is the head of state and guarantor of the Constitution.”
The amendments stipulate that the premier can use halls for ceremonies in the presidential residence.
It has been decided after a long discussion of the remaining amendments that imply expansion of the president’s powers to leave them for another session and put them later to the government’s floor in a separate legislative package.
In particular, the remaining amendments propose to entitle the president to assign higher diplomatic ranks, send diplomats on business trips as well as grant and revoke Armenian citizenship.
Besides, the president will assign state rewards and honorable titles, and also grant amnesties.
The presidential residence changed its address in April 2018 under the rule of Serzh Sargsyan, in accordance with the Constitution, which had been amended before his election.
The amended Constitution provides the prime minister with sweeping powers.
On June 28, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who was elected as prime minister in May thanks to the velvet revolution in Armenia, promised to give up his residence to the president an he did. -0--
On November 8, the government gave its approval to these legislative changes.
The amendments imply the return of the presidential residence from Mashtots Avenue to Baghramyan Avenue, where now one of the prime-minister’s residences is located, and the prime minister will move to the government building in the Republic Square, as it was before.
"The government thinks that the Armenian prime minister can run and coordinate the activities of the government members in one residence,” Arthur Hovhannisyan, the acting deputy justice minister, said presenting the bill to the lawmakers. “We also find it reasonable to return the historical Baghramyan 26 building to the president, who, in accordance with the constitutional changes, is the head of state and guarantor of the Constitution.”
The amendments stipulate that the premier can use halls for ceremonies in the presidential residence.
It has been decided after a long discussion of the remaining amendments that imply expansion of the president’s powers to leave them for another session and put them later to the government’s floor in a separate legislative package.
In particular, the remaining amendments propose to entitle the president to assign higher diplomatic ranks, send diplomats on business trips as well as grant and revoke Armenian citizenship.
Besides, the president will assign state rewards and honorable titles, and also grant amnesties.
The presidential residence changed its address in April 2018 under the rule of Serzh Sargsyan, in accordance with the Constitution, which had been amended before his election.
The amended Constitution provides the prime minister with sweeping powers.
On June 28, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who was elected as prime minister in May thanks to the velvet revolution in Armenia, promised to give up his residence to the president an he did. -0--
