By Eva Sahakyan

Aram Manukian

YEREVAN, August 23–On August 23, 1990 the Supreme Council of the Armenian SSR adopted the Declaration of Independence.

“The Armenian SSR is renamed the Republic of Armenia (Armenia). The Republic of Armenia shall have its flag, coat of arms, and anthem,” read Aram Manukian, who presented the declaration during a Parliamentary session.

“The Republic of Armenia is a self-governing state, endowed with the supremacy of state authority, independence, sovereignty, and plenipotentiary power.Only the constitution and laws of the Republic of Armenia are valid for the whole territory of the Republic of Armenia. The bearer of the Armenian statehood is the people of the Republic of Armenia, which exercises the authority directly and through its representative bodies on the basis of the constitution and laws of the Republic of Armenia. The right to speak on behalf of the people of the Republic of Armenia belongs exclusively to the Supreme Council of Armenia,” the Declaration read.

The Declaration of Independence was welcomed with great enthusiasm by Armenians from all over the world, as it came to realize the century-old dream of the Armenian people.

“All citizens living on the territory of Armenia are granted citizenship of the Republic of Armenia. Armenians of the Diaspora have the right to citizenship of Armenia. The citizens of the Republic of Armenia are protected and aided by the Republic. The Republic of Armenia guarantees the free and equal development of its citizens regardless of national origin, race, or creed,”- the Declaration read.

The official day of independence in Armenia is September 21. A referendum on independence and secession from the USSR was held on September 21, 1991, during which about 95 percent of the citizens voted for Armenian Independence.

Yerevan Report

Photo credit: Tert.am