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It is obvious that the parliament won\’t have time to realize the demand coming from the constitutional amendments: about adoption of the law “About anthem” till December 5.
The ARF faction postponed for 30 days discussion of the draft of law “About national anthem” in the sitting of the NA state legal commission on September 20. The government hasn\’t produced a legislative initiative about the RA national anthem\’s text and music based on the contest commission\’s decision to the NA. The commission has made a decision to propose the government to announce a new contest for the text of Aram Khachatrian\’s won music.
It isn\’t also obvious / besides the ARF/ the position of parliamentary forces in favor of what version they will vote. Grigor Margarian, the head of “Businessmen” faction told us: “We haven\’t finally studied, it is still being discussed”. Mkrtich Minasian from “People\’s deputy” faction who had voted for restoring the Soviet Armenia\’s anthem in the answer to our question whether it was his decision or the faction\’s said: “It was my personal opinion. Evaluation of music and song is a personal feeling. And “People\’s deputy” will still discuss this question.”
Another member of the commission, ULP head Gurgen Arsenian also voted for the music of Soviet Armenia\’s anthem. “I think that the most perfect music is that one for which I have voted.” And to the question whether his voting means that the ULP faction will vote for the melody of the Soviet Armenia, Mr. Arsenian answered that they would vote freely.
It is known that the positions in “Justice” bloc are different: NDU leader Vazgen Manukian is for “Mer Hayrenik” /the current anthem/ and the DPA leader Aram Sargsian is for Aram Khachatrian\’s melody. Supposedly this faction will also vote freely. But head of Justice Stepan Demirchian informed that they haven\’t discussed that question yet; “I myself like Aram Khachatrian\’s music. But I think there is no historical necessity to change the national anthem. Many things must be changed in our country before the anthem”.
After a conversation with OEP faction secretary Heghine Bisharian we found out that this party was also oriented: “We think it is better to save the current anthem. Nowadays the country has more serious problems to solve. “National Unity” also has the same opinion, and secretary of the faction Alexan Karapetian said: “I think the agiotage round the selection of national anthem must be over, and the forces should solve the problems the population need in”.
It seems both versions aren\’t preferable for RPA head of council Serge Sargsian who told the journalists yesterday: “If it was possible to have an anthem by Charents\’ words and Aram Khachatrian\’s music, I\’d be the greatest fan of that anthem”.
RPA leader, Prime Minister Andranik Margarian answering to “Aravot\’s” question about his opinion about the Soviet Armenia\’s anthem said: “Only the music is admissible for me. When there aren\’t suitable words the old text is associated. In answer to our question how he refers to “Mer Hayrenik” current anthem, he answered: “As there is no better version, it must remain”.