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Turning 22: Armenian politicians, public figures reflect on
independence ahead of another September 21 celebration
Society | 20.09.13 | 19:19
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
For 22 years now the 21st day of autumn has been the symbol of
long-longed-for independence with the tricolor fluttering free against
the blue of the sky, festive events, speeches on the importance of
sovereignty. It is a day when failures and achievements are summed up
and ideas are voiced on how to make things better for this landlocked
South Caucasus country, called Armenia.
In the first sitting of Armenia's Supreme Council (SC), on August 23,
1990, a declaration was adopted to liquidate the Soviet Socialist
Republic of Armenia and an independent Republic of Armenia was born.
By the SC decision, a referendum was held on September 21, 1991 on
leaving the USSR and 99.5 percent of voters in conditions of a turnout
of 95 percent chose to be independent. On September 23, the SC
declared Armenia an independent republic.
Aram Manukyan who read out the text of the Declaration of Independence
in 1990 and who is now secretary of the opposition Armenian National
Congress parliamentary faction, reflecting on that crucial period of
time for the nation, told the press on Friday that the Armenian people
`has never and won't ever demonstrate such unity, as it did in 1991'.
`Every citizen felt he was the one deciding the future of his/her
country. Those were miraculous, heavenly times. Our independence is
irrevocable. Even if there are issues today, if there are challenges,
if our independence is deeply distorted today, I'd even say
moth-eaten, worm-eaten independence is what we have today, still, it
is not lost. By no means,' says Manukyan.
Director of Sociometer sociological center Aharon Adibekyan says
Armenia has paid a high price for its independence - it has lost 2.3
million of its population.
`Ninety percent of our industry had been under Soviet supervision, and
the collapse of that union meant those 90 percent factories stopped.
We have lost a thousand plants, 250 of which were military-industrial
complexes. Around 250 research-scientific centers shut down, 800
collective and soviet farms got liquidated, along with the related 200
entities. All of a sudden we had 1.8 million unemployed at the same
time, and we lost the first million of our population before 1994,'
says the sociologist.
However, Adibekyan says, although Armenia has not made the proper use
of its independence, it has had achievements as well, the most
important among them being the best equipped and disciplined army in
the region with successful military record.
Adibekyan says more than 80 countries have established diplomatic
relations with Armenia, 26 of which have their embassies here, in
another 30 of those countries Armenia has diplomatic representation,
which, the sociologist believes, allows for active role-playing in
international relations, protection of the Armenian communities'
interests there, something Soviet Armenia was not permitted to do.
http://armenianow.com/society/48634/armenia_independence_september21
From: A. Papazian
independence ahead of another September 21 celebration
Society | 20.09.13 | 19:19
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
For 22 years now the 21st day of autumn has been the symbol of
long-longed-for independence with the tricolor fluttering free against
the blue of the sky, festive events, speeches on the importance of
sovereignty. It is a day when failures and achievements are summed up
and ideas are voiced on how to make things better for this landlocked
South Caucasus country, called Armenia.
In the first sitting of Armenia's Supreme Council (SC), on August 23,
1990, a declaration was adopted to liquidate the Soviet Socialist
Republic of Armenia and an independent Republic of Armenia was born.
By the SC decision, a referendum was held on September 21, 1991 on
leaving the USSR and 99.5 percent of voters in conditions of a turnout
of 95 percent chose to be independent. On September 23, the SC
declared Armenia an independent republic.
Aram Manukyan who read out the text of the Declaration of Independence
in 1990 and who is now secretary of the opposition Armenian National
Congress parliamentary faction, reflecting on that crucial period of
time for the nation, told the press on Friday that the Armenian people
`has never and won't ever demonstrate such unity, as it did in 1991'.
`Every citizen felt he was the one deciding the future of his/her
country. Those were miraculous, heavenly times. Our independence is
irrevocable. Even if there are issues today, if there are challenges,
if our independence is deeply distorted today, I'd even say
moth-eaten, worm-eaten independence is what we have today, still, it
is not lost. By no means,' says Manukyan.
Director of Sociometer sociological center Aharon Adibekyan says
Armenia has paid a high price for its independence - it has lost 2.3
million of its population.
`Ninety percent of our industry had been under Soviet supervision, and
the collapse of that union meant those 90 percent factories stopped.
We have lost a thousand plants, 250 of which were military-industrial
complexes. Around 250 research-scientific centers shut down, 800
collective and soviet farms got liquidated, along with the related 200
entities. All of a sudden we had 1.8 million unemployed at the same
time, and we lost the first million of our population before 1994,'
says the sociologist.
However, Adibekyan says, although Armenia has not made the proper use
of its independence, it has had achievements as well, the most
important among them being the best equipped and disciplined army in
the region with successful military record.
Adibekyan says more than 80 countries have established diplomatic
relations with Armenia, 26 of which have their embassies here, in
another 30 of those countries Armenia has diplomatic representation,
which, the sociologist believes, allows for active role-playing in
international relations, protection of the Armenian communities'
interests there, something Soviet Armenia was not permitted to do.
http://armenianow.com/society/48634/armenia_independence_september21
From: A. Papazian