YEREVAN. – Armenia’s main achievement over the past 21 years is its independence and victory in Nagorno-Karabakh, Aram Manukyan—opposition Armenian National Congress Parliamentary Faction Secretary and Armenian National Movement Party Chairman—told Armenian News-NEWS.am.  As per Manukyan, in those years Armenia was able to triumph in the battle for Karabakh, the foundations for democracy were placed, NGOs were established, and Armenia became a complete country that determines its own fate.    “All structures necessary for the formation of the country’s independence are founded. And the pride of these accomplishmets has resulted in the victory in Karabakh. But there is a greater foundation for forming independence, [and that is] the country’s citizens and their outlook on independence,” Manukyan stated.     He believes a country’s independence is established when the citizen of the given country feels protected, where there is a civil society, and the person prospers in his own country. According to the opposition MP, however, the rate of emigration from the country proves otherwise.   “This means the people have lost faith and trust. Sadly, this is a result of the activities by the current authorities. The process of independence has established in the country, but the citizens consider their rights to have been violated,” Aram Manukyan remarked.     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.