August 23, 1990, Yerevan
The Supreme Council of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic
Expressing the united will of the Armenian people;
Aware of its historic responsibility for the destiny of the Armenian people engaged in the realization of the aspirations of all Armenians and the restoration of historical justice;
Proceeding from the principles of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the generally recognized norms of international law;
Exercising the right of nations to free self-determination;
Based on the December 1, 1989, joint decision of the Armenian SSR Supreme Council and the Artsakh National Council on the “Reunification of the Armenian SSR and the Mountainous Region of Karabakh;”
Developing the democratic traditions of the independent Republic of Armenia established on May 28, 1918;
Declares
The beginning of the process of establishing of independent statehood positioning the question of the creation of a democratic society based on the rule of law;
- The Armenian SSR is renamed the Republic of Armenia (Armenia). Armenia shall have its flag, coat of arms, and anthem.
- Armenia is a self-governing state, endowed with the supremacy of state authority, independence, sovereignty, and plenipotentiary power. Only the constitution and laws of the Republic of Armenia are valid for the whole territory of Armenia.
- The bearer of the Armenian statehood is the people of Armenia, which exercises the authority directly and through its representative bodies on the basis of the constitution and laws of Armenia. The right to speak on behalf of the people of Armenia belongs exclusively to the Supreme Council of Armenia.
- All citizens living on the territory of Armenia are granted citizenship of Armenia. Armenians of the Diaspora have the right of citizenship of Armenia. The citizens of Armenia are protected and aided by the Republic. Armenia guarantees the free and equal development of its citizens regardless of national origin, race, or creed.
- With the purpose of guaranteeing the security of Armenia and the inviolability of its borders, Armenia creates its own armed forces, internal troops, organs of state and public security under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council. Armenia has its share of the USSR military apparatus. The Republic of Armenia determines the regulation of military service for its citizens independently. Military units of other countries, their military bases and building complexes can be located on the territory of the Republic of Armenia only by a decision of Armenia’s Supreme Council. The armed forces of Armenia can be deployed only by a decision of its Supreme Council.
- As the subject of international law, Armenia conducts an independent foreign policy; it establishes direct relations with other states, national-state units of the USSR, and participates in the activity of international organizations.
- The national wealth of Armenia – the land, the earth’s crust, airspace, water, and other natural resources, as well as economic and intellectual, cultural capabilities are the property of its people. The regulation of their governance, usage, and possession is determined by the laws of Armenia. Armenia has the right to its share of the USSR national wealth, including the supplies of gold and diamond, and hard currency funds.
- Armenia determines the principles and regulation of its economic system, creates its own money, national bank, finance-loan system, tax and custom services, based on the system of multiple forms of property ownership.
- On its territory, Armenia guarantees freedom of speech, press, and conscience; separation of legislative, executive, and judicial powers; a multi-party system; equality of political parties under the law; depolarization of law enforcement bodies and armed forces.
- Armenia guarantees the use of Armenian as the state language in all spheres of the Republic’s life; the Republic creates its own system of education and of scientific and cultural development.
- Armenia stands in support of the task of achieving international recognition of the 1915 Genocide in Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia.
- This declaration serves as the basis for the development of the constitution of the Republic of Armenia and, until such time as the new constitution is approved, as the basis for the introduction of amendments to the current constitution; and for the operation of state authorities and the development of new legislation for the Republic.
Signed by:
Levon Ter-Petrossian
President of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenia
Ara Sahakian
Secretary of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenia
