A regular sitting of the Milli Majlis took place on September 12. While discussing current issues, deputies viewed the TV statements of some Presidential candidates. They expressed the necessity to take effective measures to put an end to the anti-constitutional calls and offensive statements by opposition nominees.

Then, chairman of the Milli Majlis’s Standing Commission on Social Policy Affairs Khadi Rajabli spoke of the amendments to the law “On Perpetuation of a Shahid’s Name and Benefits Granted to Shahids’ Families”.

The supplement to the second part of the paragraph 3 of the law is proposed to say as follows: “Those who pay for studying in the state higher and secondary specialized educational institutions are exempted from the tuition fees”.

Khadi Rajabli said the supplement expands the known Presidential Decree on exemption of displaced people who pay for education in the state higher and secondary specialized education institutions, from tuition payments.

Deputies suggested this amendment to be applied to children of shahid’s families, died while securing Azerbaijan’s interests and within the country and working in diplomatic corps in foreign countries and shahid’s children studying in private education institutions.

The commission chairman said that proposals would be taken into account in the future but this amendment was related to the families who obtained shahid status. Before the law is adopted, tuition fees will be paid by education institutions themselves.

Following the bill’s approval deputies discussed draft law “On Lottery” in the second reading. Chairman of the Milli Majlis’ Standing Commission on Economic Issues Sattar Safarov stated that most of remarks and proposals had been taken into account during project’s discussions in the Milli Majlis’s spring Session. This law determines the institutes of the adjustment of relationships in organization and holding lotteries in Azerbaijan and rights and duties of organizers and participants of lotteries.

The draft envisages that number of the drawing commission should not be less than five persons, chairman is elected by simple majority, representatives of media and public organizations should also be represented in the drawing commission etc. Besides, minimum amount of the lottery fund should not be less than 50% of the total amount of lottery-tickets or 50% of the total amount of sold lottery-tickets.

It was noted that lotteries caused financial inflow into the budget. Since early 2003, 29 million 624 lottery lottery-tickets have been sold. In the course of the games, participants were paid 40 billion manats. For the past months of 2003, “Azerlottery” has paid taxes to the amount of 8 billion manats.

“Azerlottery” did not received funds from the state budget even without touching its 100 million manats authorized capital stock.

Following draft’s adoption in the second reading, draft law “On State Care over diabetics” was submitted to the parliament’s consideration.

Chairman of Milli Majlis’s Standing Commission on Social Policy Khadi Rajabli reported that the main purpose of this draft is to raise state care over diabetics, free procurement with medicines and preparation of the National program on this issue.

The law drafter, the Milli Majlis deputy Vasadat Azizov said that officially there are 50 diabetics in Azerbaijan. By last estimation, this figure increased 2-3 times. Five clinics, one hospital in Ganja and three societies are engaged in diabetes prophylaxis. Because of insufficient financing clinics are having some difficulties with medicines. On the other hand, application of the 18% value added tax upon imported medicines creates some problems. The law will create basis for adoption of the National Diabetes Program. The draft was adopted in the first reading.