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President Sarkissian pays homage to Theodore Roosevelt

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Sarkissian pays homage to Theodore Roosevelt

Sarkissian pays homage to Theodore Roosevelt

As part of his working trip to the United States, President Armen Sarkissian on Wednesday visited the Theodore Roosevelt Island to pay respect to the 26th president.

He laid a flower wreath on the memorial to the great statesman who, in the period of his tenure (1901-1909), acted in defense of the Armenians and other Christian minorities being massacred in the Ottoman Empire.

Roosevelt was also known for his bold stance on the protection of the Armenian Genocide survivors.

President Sarkissian meets with TUMO founders

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YEREVAN, JUNE 11, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian held a meeting today with Sam Simonian and Silva Simonyan, founders of the Simonian Educational Foundation, the president’s office said.

The President and the founders talked about the foundation’s activities, projects and future programs.

They touched upon the activity of the TUMO Center of Creative Technologies, its achievements and successes, and new initiatives.

The President said he is excited by the activity of the center, and that Tumo is a brilliant example which directly shows what direction Armenia should take.

He said that it is also an example how successful Diaspora-Armenians can create an interesting solution by sharing their ideas and professionalism in their homeland, a solution which is unique in the world.

Sam Simonian and Silva Simonian are the founders of TUMO.

 

Armenian Parliament Elects Ex-PM Sarkissian as Country’s President

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The National Assembly on Friday elected the fourth President of Armenia in a landmark vote completing the process of Armenia’s  transition to a parliamentary government.  Armen Sarkissian recived 90 votes “in favor” and  10 votes “against; one ballot paper was declared invalid, said Gagik Melikyan, the chairman of the NA Counting Committee.

YEREVAN — Armenia’s parliament chose Armen Sarkissian as the country’s new president on Friday in a vote that is meant to herald the start of a power shift to the country’s prime minister and parliament.

Sarkissian, 64, a former prime minister who once served as the country’s ambassador to Britain, was elected to serve a seven-year term.

Ninety lawmakers voted to elect him, ten opposed his election, and one abstained.

Sarkissian succeeds Serzh Sarksyan, who opposition leaders say could now become prime minister.

Armenia, a South Caucasus country of around three million people, is in line with some other former Soviet republics and countries in eastern Europe in moving away from direct democracy, according to analysts.

Outgoing Sarksyan became president in 2008 and nominated former prime minister Sarkissian to succeed him in January.

Under the terms of a constitution approved in 2015 in a referendum that effectively abolished direct presidential elections, parliament can elect a president with a three-quarters majority.

The presidency is now meant to become largely ceremonial under the amended constitution and power to shift to the prime minister and parliament.

Opposition leaders accuse Sarksyan of planning to move into the post of prime minister to continue ruling Armenia.

Sarksyan denies having any such intention.

But many members of the ruling party say Sarksyan would be the best candidate for prime minister given his experience, especially in negotiations over neighboring Azerbaijan’s breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Clashes over control of Nagorno-Karabakh, which lies inside Azerbaijan but is controlled by ethnic Armenians, have intensified in the past three years and there was a flare-up in violence there in April 2016.

Armenia seceded from the Soviet Union in 1991, but remains dependent on Russia for aid and investment. Many Armenians accuse the government of corruption and mishandling the economy.

(Writing by Margarita Antidze; Editing by Andrew Osborn)

Obama: relations between Armenia and US remain solid

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obama-sarkissianArmenia and the United States have a rich history of relations based on partnership and friendship, states the congratulatory message of the President Barack Obama in connection with the Independence Day of Armenia.

The message of Barack Obama sent to President Serzh Sargsyan states (Note: translation from Armenian):

“Dear Mr. President,Together with the American people, I am sending the best wishes in connection with the 23th anniversary of Armenia’s Independence.

Armenia and the United States have a rich history of relations based on partnership and friendship. Humanitarian, cultural and economic ties that unite our countries impress and inspire. We appreciate and respect the rich cultural heritage of Armenia, as well as the great contribution that made Americans of Armenian origin in the United States.

Relations between Armenia and the United States remain solid, and we look forward to continuing and deepening cooperation in the coming years.”