Heritage member slams emergency bill adoption

PanARMENIAN.Net - Heritage party parliamentary group leader commented on adoption of the bill “On legal regime of the emergency situation” by Armenian National Assembly.

Stepan Safaryan deemed the parliament leadership tactless to have passed such a law on the fourth anniversary of March 1 tragic events back in 2008.

“The bill critics recently said that it reminds of March 1, 2008. Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) drafted a law not on “emergency situation” but on ‘March 1’,” he told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Mr. Safaryan further noted putting to vote such a bill unacceptable on the 4th anniversary of March events of 2008.

“This proves the authorities’ wish not only to turn the page of March 1 tragic events, but to open a page of new March 1,” he concluded.

On February 9, the National Assembly of Armenia adopted the draft law “On legal regime of the emergency situation” in the first reading. The bill stipulates that emergency situation can be declared in Armenia only provided there are circumstances which directly threaten the constitutional regime, in particular, coup d'etat attempts.

The document also defines the conditions under which armed forces can be engaged during emergency situations. In particular, after an emergency situation is declared, the army can be involved only if the police troops and the National Security Service forces have failed in their tasks.

There were attempts to pass the law “On legal regime of emergency situation” twice in 2007 which have failed due to controversial discussions.

Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan suggested that the National Assembly speaker Samvel Nikoyan should return the bill to the government for amendment.