Politics
During a discussion in the National Assembly on a draft of a new oath for members of the Government, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Srbui Galanyan spoke in response to opposition accusations that the authorities had “deleted” the homeland, the people and national goals from the text.
The minister stressed that nothing had been deleted, but rather formulated in a more targeted and state-centered manner. “We are not deleting the homeland; we are writing the Republic of Armenia, because our homeland is the Republic of Armenia. We have not removed the national goals; we have made them more specific by stating that our goal is the continuity, sovereignty, independence and development of the Republic of Armenia,” Galanyan said.
Addressing opposition lawmakers’ suggestions that the draft had been developed under foreign influence and their calls to “give a sign if that is the case,” the justice minister made a heart gesture with her hands, saying: “I gave the sign—in the form of this heart—as a sign of love and common sense, so that you may be filled with love and kindness and at least love our citizens, rather than coming to this podium with pompous speeches that are detached from reality.”
Srbui Galanyan called for a clear understanding of the state’s current priorities. “What is important now? Is it important, for example, to pursue the objective set out in the preamble of the Declaration of Independence—the restoration of historical justice and/or the unification of Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia—or is it important that the Republic of Armenia exists, exists today, exists tomorrow, endures, and that all our children live in a stable, peaceful, developing, independent and sovereign state?” Galanyan said.
At the end of her speech, the minister read from the podium the full proposed text of the oath, according to which members of the Government undertake to serve the public interest, uphold the Constitution and laws, and act for the benefit of present and future generations.
More details in the video. Ani Tamrazyan
