ARAM MANUKYAN TREMBLED WITH EXCITEMENT

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08/24/aram-manukyan
03:36 pm | August 24, 2009

Politics

On August 23 Armenia marked the 19th anniversary of the Declaration
of Independence. But none of the declarers was present at the official
ceremony.

"August 23 of 1991 was a holy day," says member of the Pan-Armenian
Movement (HHSh) Aram Manukyan, who was entrusted with the proclamation
of the declaration.

"The day was remarkable for the whole republic. There were neither
authorities nor opposition in the country. I doubt whether our people
will ever enjoy such glorious moments," said Mr. Manukyan.

The Supreme Council was set up in 1990. The two main issues put on
the agenda were elections to the Supreme Council of Armenia and the
proclamation of Independence. Levon Ter-Petrosyan was elected SC
President on August 4, 1990 and on August 23 the Supreme Council
adopted the Declaration of Independence.

"I was entrusted with the proclamation because of my name and
surname. As you know the founder of the first independent republic
was Aram Manukyan and I was his namesake. Actually, we continued the
activity of the first republic (1918 -1920)," says Aram Manukyan.

In 1990 Aram Manukyan was 33 years old. "I was very excited and
trembled all over. But the excitement dashed away after I had read
the first four lines."

Two years ago the text of Declaration read out on August 23, 1990
was stolen from Manukyan’s car. So far, the police have been unable
to return the extract.