Aghvan Vardanyan, an opposition Hayastan Faction MP, says the Armenian tricolor flag should be flying to a greater extent throughout the country and has introduced a bill to make it mandatory to have the flag constantly displayed at all national, regional and local government offices, public schools and universities, state agencies, sports and cultural organizations and other state agencies.

“We see that in neighboring Georgia and Turkey, and in Azerbaijan where I’ve been long ago, I won’t even mention the U.S., that their state flags are seen wherever one goes. It’s shows the respect that the society, especially young people, have for their country,” Vardanyan said while introducing the bill to the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs today.

The bill would also fine people who violate the regulations regarding the proper raising and lowering of the flag.

Committee President Vladimir Vardanyan and member MPs welcomed the bill but noted that it presented some legal process problems that need to be ironed out before the bill is sent to the parliament for approval.