“Our law requires that the state language of the Republic of Armenia is Armenian, the state events should be carried out in Armenian, or, if necessary, be translated into a foreign language for foreigners. The law requirement must be exercised, and not casting the blame on someone else,” so responded “We are against reopening of Foreign Language Schools” Initiative Group member, Aram Apatyan, to the Minister of Education and Sciences, Armen Ashotyan, in the conversation with Aravot.am. In the conversation with the journalists, the Minister of Education and Sciences, in response to the question about failing to provide Armenian translation at the meeting of Russian journalist Dmitry Kiselyov and NA MPs, had said, “English is even common at the official meetings, but are focused on the Russian language.” Mr. Ashotyan expressed the opinion that the absence of the Armenian translation at the official meetings conducted in Russian language is not a violation of the law, and yet made a remark to the journalists for focusing on the Russian Federation and the Russian language. Mr. Ashotyan mentioned that the State Language Inspectorate (SLI) must care for the Law on Language is not violated, but SLI does not have the proper resources and fails to execute its obligations. “Armen Ashotyan has also touched this topic. Mr. Ashotyan casts the blame on other items, he cannot be stronger. If desired, these problems could have been solved long ago. Ultimately, the minister is the one to be responsible and not someone else. After all, the State Language Inspectorate is in the structure of the Ministry of Education and Sciences.” Pursuant to Aram Apatyan, when Armen Ashotyan takes part in «Что? Где? Когда?» project and speaks Russian, this project is not translated into Armenian, it is also a violation. “The government allocates funds for the implementation of this project in the Republic of Armenia. And it would correct if the government had thought about allocation of these funds on the condition that it is transmitted in Armenian. In other cases, we see that the government and the Ministry of Education are encouraging the existence of such transmission by the state funds. The fact that the minister is taking part in this project, instead of non-participating, moreover, demanding that this 25 thousand dollars per year is transferred if the project is designed in Armenian, naturally, it talks about the fact that currently Ashotyan is not interested in implementation of this project in Armenian due to whatever reasons.”
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
