Serzh Sargsyan
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| Serzh Sargsyan Սերժ Սարգսյան |
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[[Image: |225px|Serzh Sargsyan]] |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 9 April 2008 |
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| Prime Minister | Tigran Sargsyan |
| Preceded by | Robert Kocharyan |
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| In office 26 March 2007 – 9 April 2008 |
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| President | Robert Kocharyan |
| Preceded by | Andranik Margaryan |
| Succeeded by | Tigran Sargsyan |
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| Born | 30 June 1954 Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh AO, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union |
| Political party | HHK |
| Spouse | Rita Sargsyan |
| Alma mater | Yerevan State University |
| Religion | Armenian Apostolic Christian |
Serzh Azati Sargsyan (Armenian Սերժ Ազատի Սարգսյան, born June 30, 1954[1]) is the current President of Armenia. He won the February 2008 presidential election[2] with the backing of the conservative Republican Party of Armenia, a party in which he serves as chairman,[3] and took office in April 2008.[4]
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[edit] Personal details
Serzh Sargsyan was born on June 30, 1954 in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh (then the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast within Soviet Azerbaijan). He was admitted to Yerevan State University in 1971, served the the Soviet Armed Forces during 1971-72, and graduated from the Philological Department of Yerevan State University in 1979. In 1983, he married his wife, Rita. They have two daughters, Anush and Satenik, and one granddaughter, Mariam. [1] He is the chairman of the Chess Federation of Armenia.
[edit] Early career
Sargsyan's career began in 1975 at the Electrical Devices Factory in Yerevan[5], where he worked as a metal turner until 1979 when he became head of the Stepanakert City Communist Party Youth Association Committee. Then served as second secretary, first secretary, the Stepanakert City Committee Propaganda Division Head, the Nagorno-Karabakh Regional Committee Communist Organizations' Unit Instructor, and finally as the assistant to Genrikh Poghosyan, the First Secretary of the Nagorno-Karabakh Regional Committee.[1]
As tensions rose over Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenians and Azerbaijanis, Sargsyan became chairman of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Self-Defense Forces Committee and was subsequently elected to the Supreme Soviet of Armenia in 1990.[5] He organized several battles in the Nagorno-Karabakh War and is considered to be one of the founders of Nagorno-Karabakh's and Armenia's armed forces. He became the Armenian defense minister in 1993, head of Armenian state security department in 1995 and minister of national security in 1996. In 1999, he became Robert Kocharyan's chief of staff, then secretary of the national security council, defense minister, and prime minister in 2007.[1]
[edit] 2008 presidential election
Sargsyan, with President Kocharyan's backing, was viewed as the strongest contender for the post of the President of Armenia in the February 2008 presidential election. Full provisional results showed him winning about 53% of the vote, a first round majority, well ahead of second place candidate Levon Ter-Petrossian.[6] Ter-Petrossian's supporters, disputing the official results, held large protests in Yerevan for over a week following the election, until they were violently broken up by police on March 1; eight people were killed, and a state of emergency was imposed.[4]
[edit] Presidency
Sargsyan was sworn in as President inside the Yerevan Opera House on April 9. Referring to the "painful events" that followed the election, he "urge[d] everybody to look forward, together, to seek and find the way for reconciliation, development, and future of Armenia."[4] He appointed Tigran Sargsyan, who had been the Chairman of the Central Bank and is not a member of a political party, as Prime Minister.[7] Vazgen Manukyan, a former member of the Karabakh Committee and a prominent oppositionist, stated that he is optimistic and "will do everything to help this government become successful".[8] On April 18, Sargsyan launched an unusually blistering attack on the Armenian customs, saying that "corruption within its ranks is 'thriving' and hampering the countrys economic development."[9] He later authorized an opposition to take place in Yerevan[10] and pledged to comply with the Council of Europe's demands for an end to the government's crackdown on the opposition.[11]
[edit] Foreign policy
Sargsyan stated that he will continue Armenia's policy towards Turkey, to normalize relations without any preconditions while continuing to strive for international recognition of the 1915 Armenian Genocide.[12] Sarkisian has also pledged to have a continued dialogue with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, despite recent reluctance from Baku.[13] He also stated that "Armenia's possible recognition of Kosovo's independence will not strain the Armenian-Russian relations" but also noted that "Kosovo recognition issue needs serious discussion ... Armenia has always been an adherent to the right of nations to self-determination and in this aspect we welcome Kosovo's independence."[14]
[edit] Honors
Serzh Sargsyan has thus far been conferred the following honors:
- Order of first Degree "Martakan Khach" ("Fighting Cross")
- Hero of Artsakh
- Knight of "Voske Artsiv" (Golden Eagle) order
- Order of "Tigran Mets"
[edit] Other details
Other transcriptions of his given name are Serge and Serj, of the surname Sarkissian, Sarkisyan, Sargsyan, Sarkissyan, the transliteration is Serž Azati Sargsyan.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Official biography of Serzh Sargsyan
- ^ "Armenian opposition candidate accuses prime minister of election violations", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), February 19, 2008.
- ^ "RPA nominates Serge Sargsyan for President", PanArmenian.net, 2007-11-10. Retrieved on 2007-11-11.
- ^ a b c "Armenia: Sarkisian Sworn In As President", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, April 9, 2008.
- ^ a b Republican party biography of Serzh Sargsyan
- ^ "Sargsyan wins Armenian presidential race", Xinhua, February 20, 2008.
- ^ Marianna Grigoryan. "The Other Sargsyan: PM Tigran in, political "independent" to lead government", ArmeniaNow, 2008-04-11. Retrieved on 2008-04-11.
- ^ Astghik Bedevian. "Manukian Looks Forward To Sarkisian Presidency", ArmeniaLiberty/Radio Free Europe, 2008-04-17. Retrieved on 2008-04-17.
- ^ Emil Danielyan. "Sarkisian Blasts ‘Corrupt’ Customs", ArmeniaLiberty/Radio Free Europe, 2008-04-18. Retrieved on 2008-04-18.
- ^ Astghik Bedevian. "Thousands Rally In Yerevan With Rare Government Consent", ArmeniaLiberty/Radio Free Europe, 2008-04-21. Retrieved on 2008-04-21.
- ^ Hovannes Shoghikian and Emil Danielyan. "Sarkisian Pledges To Meet Council Of Europe Demands", ArmeniaLiberty/Radio Free Europe, 2008-04-25. Retrieved on 2008-04-25.
- ^ Emil Danielyan. "Sarkisian Reaffirms Armenian Policy On Turkey", ArmeniaLiberty/Radio Free Europe, 2008-04-24. Retrieved on 2008-04-24.
- ^ "Out of Armenia, something new?", The Economist, 2008-02-21. Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
- ^ "Armenia doesn’t view Kosovo as precedent", PanArmenian.net, 12 March 2008. Link accessed 2008-03-12.
[edit] External links
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Andranik Margaryan |
Prime Minister of Armenia 2007 – 2008 |
Succeeded by Tigran Sargsyan |
| Preceded by Robert Kocharyan |
President of Armenia 2008 |
Incumbent |
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| History | Locations | Political leaders | Military leaders | Foreign involvement |
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Origins Soviet era
Recent developments 1 Involvement in the War Disputed |
Nagorno-Karabakh, North Nagorno-Karabakh, Central Nagorno-Karabakh, South Rayons of Azerbaijan under Armenian control |
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Military aid to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Military aid to Azerbaijan Conflict mediation |
