Government approves amendments to law on diplomatic service
20.06.2019,
19:09
The government of Armenia approved today a set of amendments to the law on diplomatic service, motioned by MPs Ruben Rubinyan from the ruling My Step party and Arman Babajanyan from the opposition Bright Armenia party.
YEREVAN, June 20, /ARKA/. The government of Armenia approved today a set of amendments to the law on diplomatic service, motioned by MPs Ruben Rubinyan from the ruling My Step party and Arman Babajanyan from the opposition Bright Armenia party.
According to Deputy Foreign Minister Grigor Hovhannsian, the changes provide for certain tools to regulate the appointment of officials to diplomatic positions and encourage diplomats to improve their professional skills.
He said one of the proposed changes is about the appointment of ambassadors. More precisely, it proposes that the number of appointment of ambassadors for political necessity be reduced to 15% of all appointments, and when appointing carrier ambassadors, the necessary service length should be reduced from 15 to 10 years. In case of appointing ambassadors for political necessity, consultative recommendation of the parliamentary Commission on Foreign Relations is required.
Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan pointed out that there are some discrepancies with the Constitution regarding the recommendations. He said the discrepancies lie in the powers of the Prime Minister and the National Assembly in appointing ambassadors, whereas the parliamentary commission does not have such powers, and in this case only recommendations are possible, not conclusions.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan proposed to approve the changes but on the condition that the bill reflect certain deadlines for the nomination of candidates and the terms of the diplomatic service.--0-
According to Deputy Foreign Minister Grigor Hovhannsian, the changes provide for certain tools to regulate the appointment of officials to diplomatic positions and encourage diplomats to improve their professional skills.
He said one of the proposed changes is about the appointment of ambassadors. More precisely, it proposes that the number of appointment of ambassadors for political necessity be reduced to 15% of all appointments, and when appointing carrier ambassadors, the necessary service length should be reduced from 15 to 10 years. In case of appointing ambassadors for political necessity, consultative recommendation of the parliamentary Commission on Foreign Relations is required.
Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan pointed out that there are some discrepancies with the Constitution regarding the recommendations. He said the discrepancies lie in the powers of the Prime Minister and the National Assembly in appointing ambassadors, whereas the parliamentary commission does not have such powers, and in this case only recommendations are possible, not conclusions.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan proposed to approve the changes but on the condition that the bill reflect certain deadlines for the nomination of candidates and the terms of the diplomatic service.--0-
