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AVİM's Note: The original text of this news article is in Russian. It was automatically translated into English by the news website that published the said article.

Nezavisimaya Gazeta (2 February 2024)

Artur Avakov

The head of the Armenian parliament, Alen Simonyan, said that the country needs a new anthem and coat of arms. The music of the song seemed to him not Armenian enough, and the lion on the state sign reminded him of a smiley face. In addition, Simonyan believes that Armenia should not be “under water.” Experts believe that in this way the authorities continue to discuss the project of the Fourth Republic with society, preparing it for changes.

Many perceived Simonyan’s revelation as another concession to Azerbaijan and Turkey. The fact is that the text of the anthem is based on the poem “Song of an Italian Girl” by Mikael Nalbandyan, who was born in Rostov-on-Don, and the music for it was written by the Lebanese-Armenian Barsen Kanachyan. It tells how a woman gives a man a flag she has sewn so that he will not be afraid to die for a free and independent homeland. As for the emoticon, the animals on the coat of arms symbolize the four ancient Armenian kingdoms. In the middle of the state sign is Mount Ararat [Mount Ağrı], above it is Noah’s Ark, and below it is water. As you know, the dormant volcano is located on the territory of Turkey, but continues to play one of the most important roles in Armenian identity.

Thus, some interpreted Simonyan’s words as a proposal to abandon claims to the ancient history of the Armenian people and attempts to return to their former greatness. Moreover, he himself indirectly confirms this. “We need to understand where Armenia is going and what goals it is pursuing, for which the republic exists. Does it exist to restore Greater Armenia, or to ensure the safety and well-being of citizens? We must answer these questions, and I think that the answers to them are ambiguous in our society,” Simonyan said during a press conference following negotiations with the head of the Czech Parliament Marketa Pekarova Adamova.

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