YEREVAN. – Independence is not a counsel, but rather a system of value, Armenia’s ruling Republican Party (RPA) Vice Chairman and RPA Parliamentary Faction leader Galust Sahakyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.     “For every nation, and especially for us, independence is the establishment of identity and the key factor for the nation’s and the state’s eternity,” he noted.    Speaking about Armenia’s accomplishments and shortfalls throughout the years of its independence, Sahakyan noted that the biggest accomplishment is Armenia itself, whereas the shortfalls are factors that are not linked to independence.    “The accomplishments and the shortfalls are a matter of time, whereas independence is the symbol of the nation’s identity and eternity,” RPA Vice Chairman stated.     To note, Friday, September 21, 2012 is the 21st anniversary of Armenia’s independence.  The declaration of Armenia’s independence was adopted on August 23, 1990, and during session of the country’s then Supreme Council.    And on September 21, 1991 a referendum was held to decide upon seceding from the ex-USSR and declaring independence. As a result, 2,050,000 people—or 94.99 percent of the total number of voters—said “yes” to independence. Solely 10,000 people voted against it.   And two days thereafter, the Supreme Council declared Armenia an independent and a sovereign state.