At the joint press conference with Chairman of Eurasian Economic Commission Board Viktor Khristenko, Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan gave his speech in Russian. Meanwhile, pursuant to Article 3 of the Law on “Language”, “The Armenian language shall be the language of official statements of persons representing the Republic of Armenia.”
Aravot.am asked Aram Apatyan, member of “We are against reopening of foreign language schools” initiative group, whether this is not breaching of the law on “Language”, Mr. Apatyan answered, “It is merely a violation of decency. The Prime Minister was to speak Armenian and his speech was to be translated into Russian for the people who did not know Armenian. I’m not an expert on the law on “Language” and the law specialist should answer this question. But, anyway, I think that the Prime Minister should have spoken Armenian, and the speech was to be translated.”
To our question whether it was not considered at the Government of Armenia, Mr. Apatyan responded, “It does not matter how they come to that conclusion. But, I know that according to some studies, when people get together, they speak their native language, and when appeared as a guest, they pass to the native language of the guest, then the community is more likely to lose its native language rather than if they had provided the translation.”
To our observation that in fact, there is a risk, Mr. Apatyan responded, “This risk is everywhere. Today, we pass to the native language of the guest to look hospitable. Whereas, it is right to continue to talk in our mother tongue, just to provide translation. In this case, the language is protected and the guest gets the information. The Prime Minister’s speech was the same example. By doing it, he served as an example for others. An impermissible thing has happened.”
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Larisa Alaverdyan, who, too, always acts as a defender of maintenance of the native language and against foreign-language schools, in the conversation with us, conveyed the following: “If we take the very law, then, yes, it is a violation of the law. But, it is the habit of doing it, if they understand the language, they think about saving the time. However, from the legislative point of view, and under this heated debate of what the situation of Armenia’s independence will be after joining the Customs Union, it would be correct to abide with the Armenian language, within the law.”
Aravot.am asked press secretary of the Prime Minister of Armenia Harutyun Berberyan why it was decided that, at the joint press conference with the Eurasian Economic Commission board Chairman Viktor Khristenko, the Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan will make his speech in Russian, whether it is not a violation of the Law of the Republic of Armenia on “Language”. The press secretary urged us to send the question in writing. On receiving the answer, we will also make the government clarification public.
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
