The Republic of Armenia today, on 21 September, marks the 30th anniversary of its independence. Thirty years ago on this day, the Armenian people, through a referendum, said their decisive “yes” to Armenia’s independence. The absolute majority of Armenia’s adult population gave a positive answer to the question: “Do you agree that the Republic of Armenia should be a democratic, independent state outside the USSR?” Two days later, on 23 September, the country’s Supreme Council declared Armenia an independent, sovereign republic.
This most important holiday in Armenia’s national calendar was “founded” following 23 August 1990 — the day the process of establishing independent statehood was launched. During its first session, Armenia’s newly elected Supreme Council adopted the Declaration of Independence of Armenia. With this, the republic’s parliament signalled the start of the process of establishing independent statehood. Immediately after the adoption of the declaration, on 24 August, the Supreme Council of the Armenian SSR decided to rename the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic the Republic of Armenia, and to consider the sitting twelfth-convocation Supreme Council the first-convocation Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenia.
With the adoption of the declaration, a new era began in the life of the Armenian people, and the construction of the Third Republic began in Armenia’s history. The result was that only the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Armenia operate on Armenia’s territory. The bearer of Armenian statehood is the people of the Republic of Armenia. Citizenship of the Republic of Armenia is established for all citizens residing on the territory of the Republic of Armenia. The Armenian diaspora abroad has the right to citizenship of the Republic of Armenia.
The first Constitution of the newly independent Armenia was adopted on 5 July 1995, by the result of a nationwide referendum. The current Constitution was adopted on 27 November 2005, again by the result of a nationwide referendum. The flag of the Republic of Armenia is tricolour; the coat of arms of the newly independent Armenia is the coat of arms of the First Republic of Armenia (1918-1920), whose authors are the architect Alexander Tamanian and the painter Hagop Kojoyan. Armenia’s anthem is also the anthem of the First Republic of Armenia. The author of the anthem’s words is Mikael Nalbandian; the music was composed by Barsegh Kanachyan.
21 September is a day of national pride: the Armenian people’s centuries-old dream of having an independent homeland has, for 30 years now, already been a reality.
