After 20 years

Twenty years ago on May 20 on a wave of national awakening elections were held in the Supreme body. On the eve of independence of Armenia in two stages in 260 selective constituents (from them 12 in Arcakh) selected the majority of voices the parliament began the work on July 20, sitting during first three years in the big boardroom of the government, and later in a building of the Central committee of Communist party.

Interesting coincidence – today because of the works in the boardroom, National meeting after a 17-year-old break in history of parliament of Armenia, from 17th till 20th May will hold spring session in the big boardroom of the government.

It is impossible to overestimate value and a role of the first parliament with process of an establishment of the independent state. It evidently differs from the subsequent with its romanticism, the big desire to serve Fatherland and the people, and also national attention and trust to itself. Difficult days were prepared by the selected works: along with parliamentary activity many of them took part and in the national-liberation struggle, not avoiding difficulties. Unfortunately, there were also victims. Many members of the Supreme body played the big role in a political and public life of the country later, and have the contribution even today.

The Supreme body half of the members of which were members of communist party, at the first session on August 23, proclaimed the declaration of independence of Armenia. So the process of an establishment of independent statehood began. On August 24 the Supreme body on the basis of the declaration, decided to rename the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic into Republic of Armenia, and the12th session of Supreme body to consider as the first session of Supreme body of the RA.

On March 1 in 1991 the Supreme body made the decision “on referendum carrying out about the exit of the RA from structure of the Soviet Union on September 21 in 1991”, and on June 25 – about an appointment of the day of presidential elections of the RA on October 16 in 1991. And on September 23 the Supreme body of the RA having assumed as a basis the results of the referendum about secession of the Soviet Union, has proclaimed the Republic of Armenia an independent state.

The first parliament finished its activity on May 15 in 1995, for five years having accepted 1169 decisions and 185 laws and having concluded 148 international contracts. Among the passed laws there is also the law “About language” in which in particular it is said: “State language of the Republic of Armenia is the Armenian language which serves all spheres of life of republic. The official language of the Republic of Armenia is literary Armenian.” According to the law the language of teaching and education of Armenian educational institutions is literary Armenian.

It would be now very difficult to present, that after 20 years naming followers of ideology of Garegin Nzhdeh will make changes in the law “About language”, trying to prove necessity of foreign language schools in Armenia. And especially that fact is worthy, that among such people against this step are and those who during the Soviet period got educations in Russian.

We are more than assured, that at us the occasion unfortunately will be to return to this question as the given legislative initiative of the government though is on the summons of sessions of National meeting, but it has not discussed yet by the main commission and not included yet in the summons of four-day sessions.

“Those years, especially in the winter when it was cold in a hall, and almost there were no conditions, there was a warmth, inspiration in people, but now in a corridor and in a hall I have noticed, that some deputies have complaints for bad conditions. I think, maybe it is a difference of times, however that enthusiasm exist at that time , those aspirations, victories – everything that existed then was other”, – said the former deputy of the Supreme body, today the constant representative of president of the RA Garnik Isagulyan. He also mentioned, that there are no deputies of the Supreme body in the today’s policy, especially there are no the best of them who brought the big contribution those days, and “very many people have also no piece of bread today”. He expressed hope, that soon when the 20 anniversary of the first parliament will be marked, there will be a possibility to see the former deputies in this hall, and “this day memoirs will become even more real”. “Unfortunately, with us there will be no 40 deputies died for this time”, – he also added.