ARMENIA HAS ‘PROVISIONAL’ ANTHEM

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS:By a vote of 71 to six votes against and another six abstentions the parliament passed today in the third and final reading a bill on Armenia’s national anthem. The bill says that the “Mer Hayrenik” (Our Fatherland) song will remain Armenia’s national anthem until a new song with a new music and new lyrics will be adopted. “Mer Hayrenik” was the official anthem of an independent Armenian republic in 1918-1920 before it was reinstated by Armenia’s first post-Communist government in 1990. Many of political forces, backed by some artists and composers, consider its tune and lyrics too unsophisticated. However, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) that ruled Armenia before it was seized by Bolsheviks, is flatly against replacing the working anthem. Under the bill approved today “Mer Hayrenik” will remain as a “provisional” anthem.