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SARKISYAN SWORN IN AS ARMENIAN PRESIDENT
RIA Novosti
April 9 2008
Russia
YEREVAN, April 9 (RIA Novosti) - Serzh Sarkisyan was sworn in as
Armenian president on Wednesday as the former Soviet republic looked
to put recent electoral violence behind it.
Thousands of supporters of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who was defeated
by then Prime Minister Sarkisyan in the February 19 presidential
elections, rallied the day after the polls, claiming that they had
been rigged and demanding a rerun and access to national television.
Sarkisyan denied the allegations, insisting that he had won the
presidential elections fairly.
On March 1, when protests turned violent, President Robert Kocharyan
declared a state of emergency which lasted until March 20. Armenian
authorities said last Wednesday that eight people had been killed
and 265 wounded in the protests.
Sarkisyan's inauguration was attended by Armenian government officials,
MPs, representatives of 12 international organizations and delegations
from 58 countries. The Russian delegation was led by State Duma
Speaker Boris Gryzlov.
Matthew Bryza, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and
Eurasian Affairs, also took part.
"A political coalition has been formed and the candidacy of prime
minister chosen on the initiative of Armenian President Serzh
Sarkisyan, and the country's government will be formed next week,"
said Tigran Torosyan, speaker of the National Assembly.
At a meeting on Tuesday the Council of Armenia's ruling Republican
Party voted unanimously in favor of Tigran Sarkisyan, the Central
Bank chief, for premier.
RIA Novosti
April 9 2008
Russia
YEREVAN, April 9 (RIA Novosti) - Serzh Sarkisyan was sworn in as
Armenian president on Wednesday as the former Soviet republic looked
to put recent electoral violence behind it.
Thousands of supporters of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who was defeated
by then Prime Minister Sarkisyan in the February 19 presidential
elections, rallied the day after the polls, claiming that they had
been rigged and demanding a rerun and access to national television.
Sarkisyan denied the allegations, insisting that he had won the
presidential elections fairly.
On March 1, when protests turned violent, President Robert Kocharyan
declared a state of emergency which lasted until March 20. Armenian
authorities said last Wednesday that eight people had been killed
and 265 wounded in the protests.
Sarkisyan's inauguration was attended by Armenian government officials,
MPs, representatives of 12 international organizations and delegations
from 58 countries. The Russian delegation was led by State Duma
Speaker Boris Gryzlov.
Matthew Bryza, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and
Eurasian Affairs, also took part.
"A political coalition has been formed and the candidacy of prime
minister chosen on the initiative of Armenian President Serzh
Sarkisyan, and the country's government will be formed next week,"
said Tigran Torosyan, speaker of the National Assembly.
At a meeting on Tuesday the Council of Armenia's ruling Republican
Party voted unanimously in favor of Tigran Sarkisyan, the Central
Bank chief, for premier.