69 MPs 'breached' Independence Declaration principles – statement

A group of Armenian public figures issued today a statement regarding the parliament-approved amendments to the Law on Language and the Law on Public Education.

Below is the text of the statement:

Sixty-nine members of the National Assembly voted on December 22, 2010, for the cabinet-proposed draft laws on language and public education. As a result, the bills were approved in the third reading.

By making such decision, those 69 MPs violated the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the Third Republic of Armenia. That's a big shame and disgrace for all those Armenians who ever fought for their country's freedom and independence.

We are confident that the true followers of national values will invest their best efforts in closing down all the foreign language schools in Armenia. This implies a long-lasting struggle until the problem is resolved.

The statement was signed by Levon Barseghyan, Avetik Ishkhanyan, Sona Ayvazyan, Arthur Sakutns and Varuzhan Hoktanyan.