A sitting of the Milli Majlis Standing Commission on Defense and Security Affairs was held on 28 June to discuss the draft Laws “On Intelligence and Counterintelligence Activity” and “On National Security” in the third reading.

Deputy Chairman of the Milli Majlis, Chair of the Commission Ziyafat Asgarov noted that remarks and proposals submitted by the deputies while debates over the drafts in the parliament had been thoroughly studied. Considering the importance of the documents, the Commission members decided to submit them again to the Parliament for discussion.

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During the 28 June sitting of the Milli Majlis Standing Commission on Legal Affairs and State Building, its members discussed the draft Law “On Introducing Amendments and Supplements to the Law “On Status of the Deputy of the Milli Majlis of the Azerbaijan Republic.”

Updating on the alterations in the draft, the Commission Chair Ali Huseynov said that they reflect the regulations on receiving tax-free money guarantee by the Milli Majlis members to cover expenses incurred during fulfillment of their parliamentary duties, leave payment /to the amount of double monthly salary for medical treatment or leave/, sum of obligatory insurance, pension and others.

The deputies decided to submit the question to the parliament.

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On the same day, the Milli Majlis Standing Commission on Economic Policy discussed the agreements on long-term economic, trade and industrial property, as well as those on cooperation and mutual support in customs sphere, signed between the Government of the Azerbaijan Republic and the Government of the Turkish Republic, draft Laws “On State Register of Immovable Property“ and “On Postal Communication” in the third reading.

During the debates, the commission members pointed out that the agreements signed by the Government of the Azerbaijan Republic and the Government of the Turkish Republic would promote further development of economic and trade links between the two countries, reinforcing the fight against smuggling. They finally decided to submit the documents to the Milli Majlis for discussion.

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Members of the Milli Majlis Standing Commission on Cultural Affairs discussed on 28 June the draft Law “On Preservation and Development of Azerbaijan Carpet Art”.

Chair of the Commission Anar Rzayev noted that the Law regulates the issues related to protection and preservation, studying and propaganda of the carpets weaved in the historic territory of Azerbaijan, as well as development of carpet weaving on the whole.

Chief of the Milli Majlis Administration’s Department of Social Legislation Adilya Abbasova, Director General of the Research-and-production Association “Azerkhalcha” and other Commission members pointed to the importance of carpet weaving development and proper organization of the carpets selling.

Finally, the draft Law was submitted for discussion to the Milli Majlis.

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A joint sitting of the Milli Majlis Standing Commissions on Legal Affairs and State Building and on Economic Policy was held on 28 June to discuss the draft Law “On State Budget of the Azerbaijan Republic for 2004”.

Chair of the Commission on Economic Policy Sattar Safarov noted that the pre-election promises of President Ilham Aliyev concerning improvement of the population’s well-being become reality. The economic achievements are accompanied by growth in the state budget revenues and increasing payments to poor strata of population.

After that Deputy Minister of Finance Azar Bayramov provided information on the issue in hand. Deputies and invitees put forward related proposals.

They, finally, decided to submit the draft for discussion to the Milli Majlis.