Live performance of RA anthem at national events to be mandatory

ArmInfo. Live performance of the anthem of the Republic of Armenia during state events has become mandatory. Furthermore, citizens must now stand while listening to the anthem, placing their right hand on their left chest. At a  meeting on February 12, the government approved the procedure for  performing the national anthem.

As stated by Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport  (MEKS), Zhanna Andreasyan, developing a proper attitude toward state  symbols and ensuring their uniform standard are among the  government's priorities. The minister recalled that last year,  amendments and additions were made to the Law "On the Anthem of the  Republic of Armenia" with the aim of establishing a uniform standard.  Based on these amendments, official recordings of the full and  abridged versions of the anthem have been created, which are posted  on the official websites of the government and the MEKS and have also  been made available to various agencies and citizens for use in cases  stipulated by law.

Currently, summing up the work completed, a procedure for the  performance of the anthem has been presented, clearly defining when,  where, and in what version the RA anthem should be performed,  ensuring its uniform use. According to Zhanna Andreasyan, under the  new procedure, live performance of the anthem during state events is  mandatory.

"In all government structures, especially at protocol events, the  possibility of a live performance of the anthem must be planned and  ensured in advance. This may be an orchestral, orchestral-choral, or  choral version," stated the Minister of Education, Culture, and  Sports.

This also regulates cases where the anthem is performed at the  beginning of ceremonial events held by non- governmental  organizations or other individuals. In this case, a live performance  is also considered, and if a recording is used, only the official  version, available on the government and MESKS websites, is required.

The head of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of the  Republic of Armenia drew special attention to the procedure for  performing the national anthem in educational institutions.  Performance of the national anthem is mandatory at higher education  institutions operating in the Republic of Armenia, regardless of  ownership, during the official opening (September 1) and closing  (last bell) ceremonies of the academic year, accompanied by an  orchestra and choir. Performance of the national anthem is also  mandatory in all general education schools, preschools, and  educational institutions implementing vocational and secondary  vocational education programs operating in the Republic of Armenia,  regardless of ownership, every Monday before the start of classes,  accompanied by the students of the educational institution.

She clarified that the law already stipulates that the national  anthem of the Republic of Armenia must be performed at the beginning  of the school week in preschools, schools, and colleges. The new  procedure specifies that it must be performed accompanied by the  students of the educational institution.

In other words, the participation of all interested parties in the  performance of the national anthem is mandatory. This has a very  specific goal: to ensure that the most important state symbol, the  anthem, becomes one of the first things children learn, starting from  the earliest stages of education. It should be perceived not simply  as lyrics or music, but also as a ritual performed by them, which  becomes an important milestone in strengthening national identity and  a sense of statehood," noted the Minister of Education, Culture, and  Sports.

According to her, six versions of the anthem are available on the  official websites of the Government and the Ministry of Education,  Science, and Culture of the Republic of Armenia: orchestral only,  choral only, and orchestral and choral, in full and abridged formats.

The draft also defines the behavior of those present during the  listening or performance of the anthem: it should be performed  standing, with the palm of the right hand placed on the left side of  the chest. It is also noted that in cases of objective impossibility,  for example, due to physical limitations or other valid reasons, this  requirement does not apply.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, in turn,  noted that the decision was based on practical situations.

"This is an extremely important issue in terms of our national  identity, the preservation and development of state attributes, as  well as the logic of our citizens and the positioning of the public  administration system in relation to the state," the Prime Minister  emphasized.

Pashinyan also proposed creating choirs within government agencies.

Addressing Public Television, the Prime Minister instructed that the  official video featuring the national anthem be updated, calling it  outdated: "How much longer can this go on? For as long as I can  remember, the same video has been playing over and over again." "So,  our government, or other institutions, or television networks, don't  have the resources to update the national anthem video every two  years? That's the position, isn't it? Do we always wear the same  clothes? Would we do that? But we dress our government in the same  clothes, saying, 'So what? What happened? It's midnight, no one's  watching, no one's listening, much less getting up, so what's the  point?' This is a position that constantly manifests itself in  different places, on different occasions," the prime minister said.