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OPPOSITION WANTS COMMISSION OF TRAFFIC LAWS: MPS SAY PUBLIC DISCONTENT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED
http://armenianow.com/news/52996/traffic_laws_in_armenia_hovik_abrahamyan_armenia_n ational_assembly
NEWS | 25.03.14 | 15:55
Photolure
By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The four-day sitting of the parliament this week has commenced with
the four non-pro-establishment forces suggesting that a temporary NA
commission be formed to study the impact of changes in transport laws.
Specifically the opposition parties want to know how society has been
affected by: the application of speed and road traffic surveillance
cameras installed in 2012-2013, introduction of paid red parking
zones, the potential increase of public bus fairs in Yerevan, fines
for failing to pay the mandatory insurance for vehicles that are no
longer in use.
Heritage faction leader Ruben Hakobyan presenting the initiative said
that there was a need for such a commission, because these issues
have been raised for two-three years now, there is public discontent,
but none of the issues has been solved.
"How much must someone dislike Yerevan to have adopted such laws? The
examples of the speed cameras and the red parking spaces are vivid
manifestations of corruption... Saying beautiful words on how we are
fighting corruption is one thing; being guided by a backyard logic
is another," he said.
Prosperous Armenia faction secretary Naira Zohrabyan studied the
international practice with the parking red zones and found out that
the money from it goes to community budgets, rather than private
companies.
"It was said during a meeting of the Yerevan city council that the
Parking City company had spent five million drams (around $12,000)
on pre-arranging things. I have asked respective specialists how
much money could have been spent on marking the red spaces, and one
of them who has a good sense of humor, said it could be five million
drams only in one case, if the red paint used belonged to Rembrandt or
another Renaissance genius. The greater part, namely around 70 percent
of that money, goes to a private person's pocket," says Zohrabyan,
adding that by her calculations the company has the average of seven
or eight million drams (around $17,000-$19,500) of monthly income.
The pro-establishment MPs criticizing the opposition, said that
lately they are more involved in commission-making than legislative
activities. Ruling Republican MP Koryun Nahapetyan said that the
opposition would better work with that enthusiasm in NA standing
committees, and not waste its energy on groundless speculations. He
also urged them to raise those issues at the city council rather than
the parliament.
Parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamyan suggested that the opposition
break down the issues by respective bodies in charge, turn to them,
get answers, then the parliament would schedule hearings.
"If necessary, we will hold hearings for two days to be able to
get answers to all the issues," he said. "I will be in charge of
their productivity, as I believe that's the right way of voicing the
issues of public concern, meaning by having responses from the bodies
in charge."
Agreeing with the suggestion, Armenian National Congress MP Aram
Manukyan said: "We want to form a commission, because the government
is not afraid of you, but is afraid of us. You do not speak about
secret activities, and besides the government has an influence on you,
and not the other way around, that is why questions remain unanswered."
From: A. Papazian
http://armenianow.com/news/52996/traffic_laws_in_armenia_hovik_abrahamyan_armenia_n ational_assembly
NEWS | 25.03.14 | 15:55
Photolure
By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The four-day sitting of the parliament this week has commenced with
the four non-pro-establishment forces suggesting that a temporary NA
commission be formed to study the impact of changes in transport laws.
Specifically the opposition parties want to know how society has been
affected by: the application of speed and road traffic surveillance
cameras installed in 2012-2013, introduction of paid red parking
zones, the potential increase of public bus fairs in Yerevan, fines
for failing to pay the mandatory insurance for vehicles that are no
longer in use.
Heritage faction leader Ruben Hakobyan presenting the initiative said
that there was a need for such a commission, because these issues
have been raised for two-three years now, there is public discontent,
but none of the issues has been solved.
"How much must someone dislike Yerevan to have adopted such laws? The
examples of the speed cameras and the red parking spaces are vivid
manifestations of corruption... Saying beautiful words on how we are
fighting corruption is one thing; being guided by a backyard logic
is another," he said.
Prosperous Armenia faction secretary Naira Zohrabyan studied the
international practice with the parking red zones and found out that
the money from it goes to community budgets, rather than private
companies.
"It was said during a meeting of the Yerevan city council that the
Parking City company had spent five million drams (around $12,000)
on pre-arranging things. I have asked respective specialists how
much money could have been spent on marking the red spaces, and one
of them who has a good sense of humor, said it could be five million
drams only in one case, if the red paint used belonged to Rembrandt or
another Renaissance genius. The greater part, namely around 70 percent
of that money, goes to a private person's pocket," says Zohrabyan,
adding that by her calculations the company has the average of seven
or eight million drams (around $17,000-$19,500) of monthly income.
The pro-establishment MPs criticizing the opposition, said that
lately they are more involved in commission-making than legislative
activities. Ruling Republican MP Koryun Nahapetyan said that the
opposition would better work with that enthusiasm in NA standing
committees, and not waste its energy on groundless speculations. He
also urged them to raise those issues at the city council rather than
the parliament.
Parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamyan suggested that the opposition
break down the issues by respective bodies in charge, turn to them,
get answers, then the parliament would schedule hearings.
"If necessary, we will hold hearings for two days to be able to
get answers to all the issues," he said. "I will be in charge of
their productivity, as I believe that's the right way of voicing the
issues of public concern, meaning by having responses from the bodies
in charge."
Agreeing with the suggestion, Armenian National Congress MP Aram
Manukyan said: "We want to form a commission, because the government
is not afraid of you, but is afraid of us. You do not speak about
secret activities, and besides the government has an influence on you,
and not the other way around, that is why questions remain unanswered."
From: A. Papazian