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HAK procures finance from donors for Electoral Code (video)

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Armenian National Congress (HAK) faction leader Levon Zurabyan says not to look for and see any conspiracy in his and Aram Manukyan’s absence during the first reading voting on the bill on making amendments in the Electoral Code (EC) at the NA extraordinary session. To note, the faction lawmaker Gagik Jhangiryan declared at the beginning of the session that they had reasonable excuse for absence, and the faction would vote in favor of the bill. In the interview with “A1+” Levon Zurabyan said that at that time Aram Manukyan was taking part in regular session of Black See cooperation, and he was having a meeting in Yerevan with international donor organizations in order to solve the issue of necessary finance at 4+4+4 format agreement, “Representatives of the UNO, the EU, Ambassadors of the USA, Germany, Britain, Switzerland, Japan, as well as representatives from the RF Embassy were present at the meeting. That was a very important non-formal meeting, which objective is that the international donor society supports the implementation of this agreement, for which investment worth USD 16 million is necessary. I did my best with my participation so that this issue is solved.” Mr Zurabyan explained that the issue of EUR 4-5 million was discussed with the donor organizations. To note, in his speech Levon Zurabyan declared that they had already found EUR 8.5 million, 3 million must be provided by the RA Government and only EUR 4-5 million was necessary. “There are hopeful statements, approaches, but the issue still cannot be considered solved. We don’t have much time; that issue must be solved in a week or 10 days, or else it won’t be possible to organize many processes. So, I urge international donors and the RA authorities to find fast solutions.” He thinks that it isn’t an opposition-authorities issue, it is an issue of the state, “As we all think that it will promote conduct of free and fair elections, so we all must work in that direction. We, the opposition, are honestly working in that direction. I am sure that if the authorities join that issue consistently, the issue will be solved.” By the way, if that money isn’t collected, the EC recent amendments, which are the agreements reached with 4+4+4 format and include 4 out of 5 principal proposals of the opposition and civil society, simply will not operate. “The law is written in that way, which we consider to be a serious drawback, simply the authorities didn’t propose any other option, and we voted in favor, as it is a door, which will be realized in case of finding means,” said HAK faction head.