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ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT CUTS PRIVILEGES OF EX-PRESIDENTS
ARKA
March 18, 2008
YEREVAN, March 18. /ARKA/. Armenian Parliament passed the amendments
to the law on remuneration, service and security of president at its
second reading. Under the amendments, the privileges of ex-president
are to be reduced.
The need to harmonize the law with the country's constitution became
the main reason for the review, Armenia's Minister of Justice Gevorg
Danielian said in presenting the amendments.
The law was passed on February 19 1996 and apart from the presidential
posts, contains also vice-president's position which is not provided
for under the current constitution, the Minister said.
After abdicating the responsibilities, but not in case of resignation,
ex-president is to be paid a special pension constituting 80% of his
salary as president (against the previous 75%). Ex-president is not
paid the pension if he holds a post with remuneration exceeding 80%
of his salary as president. If the remuneration for the new post
is below the mentioned percentage ex-president is to receive the
difference between the old and new remuneration, Danielian said.
Under the amendments, ex-president is also stripped of state-owned
summer house, but still an apartment and motor transport will be
provided to him, the Minister said.
Visits of ex-presidents to foreign countries (two visits a year at
most) are to be paid by the state, Danielian added.
If an ex-president wishes to continue his political career, an office
with three employees is to be provided to him, the Minister said. He
also pointed out that the amendments will concern only the presidents
who left the office after the amendments were passed.
The parliament faction of "Heritage" opposition party strongly
objected to the amendments, particularly to the provision on providing
an apartment. The amendments do not state clearly where exactly the
apartment is to be provided - in Yerevan, in regions of the country or
elsewhere, said the secretary of "Heritage" faction Stepan Safarian
who was also against reimbursement of personal trip expenditures
of ex-presidents.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
ARKA
March 18, 2008
YEREVAN, March 18. /ARKA/. Armenian Parliament passed the amendments
to the law on remuneration, service and security of president at its
second reading. Under the amendments, the privileges of ex-president
are to be reduced.
The need to harmonize the law with the country's constitution became
the main reason for the review, Armenia's Minister of Justice Gevorg
Danielian said in presenting the amendments.
The law was passed on February 19 1996 and apart from the presidential
posts, contains also vice-president's position which is not provided
for under the current constitution, the Minister said.
After abdicating the responsibilities, but not in case of resignation,
ex-president is to be paid a special pension constituting 80% of his
salary as president (against the previous 75%). Ex-president is not
paid the pension if he holds a post with remuneration exceeding 80%
of his salary as president. If the remuneration for the new post
is below the mentioned percentage ex-president is to receive the
difference between the old and new remuneration, Danielian said.
Under the amendments, ex-president is also stripped of state-owned
summer house, but still an apartment and motor transport will be
provided to him, the Minister said.
Visits of ex-presidents to foreign countries (two visits a year at
most) are to be paid by the state, Danielian added.
If an ex-president wishes to continue his political career, an office
with three employees is to be provided to him, the Minister said. He
also pointed out that the amendments will concern only the presidents
who left the office after the amendments were passed.
The parliament faction of "Heritage" opposition party strongly
objected to the amendments, particularly to the provision on providing
an apartment. The amendments do not state clearly where exactly the
apartment is to be provided - in Yerevan, in regions of the country or
elsewhere, said the secretary of "Heritage" faction Stepan Safarian
who was also against reimbursement of personal trip expenditures
of ex-presidents.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress