 DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
The Supreme Council of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic
Expressing the united will of the Armenian people;
Aware of its historic responsibility for the destiny of the Armenian
people engaged in the realization of the aspirations of all
Armenians and the restoration of historical justice;
Proceeding from the principles of the Universal Declaration on Human
Rights and the generally recognized norms of international law;
Exercising the right of nations to free self-determination;
Based on the December 1, 1989, joint decision of the Armenian SSR
Supreme Council and the Artsakh National Council on the
"Reunification of the Armenian SSR and the Mountainous Region of
Karabakh;"
Developing the democratic traditions of the independent Republic of
Armenia established on May 28, 1918;
Declares
The beginning of the process of establishing of independent
statehood positioning the question of the creation of a democratic
society based on the rule of law;
1. The Armenian SSR is renamed the Republic of Armenia (Armenia).
The Republic of Armenia shall have its flag, coat of arms, and
anthem.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. All citizens living on the territory of Armenia are granted
citizenship of the Republic of Armenia. Armenians of the Diaspora
have the right of 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.
5. With the purpose of guaranteeing the security of the Republic of
Armenia and the inviolability of its borders, the Republic of
Armenia creates its own armed forces, internal troops, organs of
state and public security under the jurisdiction of the Supreme
Council. The Republic of Armenia has its share of the USSR military
apparatus. The Republic of Armenia determines the regulation of
military service for its citizens independently. Military units of
other countries, their military bases and building complexes can be
located on the territory of the Republic of Armenia only by a
decision of ArmeniaÈs Supreme Council. The armed forces of the
Republic of Armenia can be deployed only by a decision of its
Supreme Council.
6. As the subject of international law, the Republic of Armenia
conducts an independent foreign policy; it establishes direct
relations with other states, national-state units of the USSR, and
participates in the activity of international organizations.
7. The national wealth of the Republic of Armenia - the land, the
earthÈs crust, airspace, water, and other natural resources, as well
as economic and intellectual, cultural capabilities are the property
of its people. The regulation of their governance, usage, and
possession is determined by the laws of the Republic of Armenia.
The v has the right to its share of the USSR national wealth,
including the supplies of gold and diamond, and hard currency funds.
8. The Republic of Armenia determines the principles and regulation
of its economic system, creates its own money, national bank,
finance-loan system, tax and custom services, based on the system of
multiple forms of property ownership.
9. On its territory, the Republic of Armenia guarantees freedom of
speech, press, and conscience; separation of legislative, executive,
and judicial powers; a multi-party system; equality of political
parties under the law; depolitization of law enforcement bodies and
armed forces.
10. The Republic of Armenia guarantees the use of Armenian as the
state language in all spheres of the RepublicÈs life; the Republic
creates its own system of education and of scientific and cultural
development.
11, The Republic of Armenia stands in support of the task of
achieving international recognition of the 1915 Genocide in Ottoman
Turkey and Western Armenia.
12. This declaration serves as the basis for the development of the
constitution of the Republic of Armenia and, until such time as the
new constitution is approved, as the basis for the introduction of
amendments to the current constitution; and for the operation of
state authorities and the development of new legislation for the
Republic.
Signed by:
Levon Ter-Petrossian
President of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenia
Ara Sahakian
Secretary of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenia
Yerevan
August 23, 1990
|
BOOK SELECTION
|
