Serzh Sargsyan

Infobox President
name = Serge Sargsyan
Սերժ Սարգսյան


order = President of Armenia
term_start = 9 April 2008
primeminister = Tigran Sargsyan

predecessor = Robert Kocharyan
office2 = Prime Minister of Armenia
term_start2 = 26 March 2007
term_end2 = 9 April 2008
president2 = Robert Kocharyan
predecessor2 = Andranik Margaryan
successor2 = Tigran Sargsyan
birth_date = birth date and age|1954|06|30|df=y
birth_place = Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh AO, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union
spouse = Rita Sargsyan
religion = Armenian Apostolic Christian
party = HHK
alma_mater = Yerevan State University

Serge Azati Sargsyan (Armenian Սերժ Ազատի Սարգսյան, born June 30, 1954 [http://www.serjsargsyan.am/?l=eng&page=biography Official biography of Serge Sargsyan] ] ) is the current President of Armenia. He won the February 2008 presidential election [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/19/europe/EU-POL-Armenia-Presidential-Election.php "Armenian opposition candidate accuses prime minister of election violations"] , Associated Press ("International Herald Tribune"), February 19, 2008.] with the backing of the conservative Republican Party of Armenia, a party in which he serves as chairman, [cite news |title=RPA nominates Serge Sargsyan for President |work=PanArmenian.net|url=http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=24036 |date=2007-11-10 |accessdate=2007-11-11 ] and took office in April 2008. [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2008/4/33DE4503-70DF-4437-9690-F5B1BD12B11F.html "Armenia: Sarkisian Sworn In As President"] , Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, April 9, 2008.] He is of no relation to the current Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan.

Personal details

Serge 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 in 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, Anoush and Satenik, and one granddaughter, Mariam. He is the chairman of the Chess Federation of Armenia.

Early career

Sargsyan's career began in 1975 at the Electrical Devices Factory in Yerevan [http://www.hhk.am/eng/persons/serge_sargsyan.html Republican party biography of Serge Sargsyan] ] , 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.

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. 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.

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. [ [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/20/content_7637405.htm "Sargsyan wins Armenian presidential race"] , Xinhua, February 20, 2008.] 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 for 20 days, ending on March 20th, 2008.

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." 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. [cite news
title = [http://armenianow.com/?action=viewArticle&AID=2962&lng=eng&IID=1182&CID=2892 The Other Sargsyan: PM Tigran in, political "independent" to lead government]
publisher = ArmeniaNow
author = Marianna Grigoryan
date = 2008-04-11
accessdate = 2008-04-11 ] 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". [cite news
title = [http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2008/04/DBB6545D-3A3B-4F21-9DEE-BB590DB4D701.asp Manukian Looks Forward To Sarkisian Presidency]
publisher = ArmeniaLiberty/Radio Free Europe
author = Astghik Bedevian
date = 2008-04-17
accessdate = 2008-04-17 ] 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." [cite news
title = [http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2008/04/E91906A7-09FF-4678-867A-8AC015EE1EBD.asp Sarkisian Blasts ‘Corrupt’ Customs]
publisher = ArmeniaLiberty/Radio Free Europe
author = Emil Danielyan
date = 2008-04-18
accessdate = 2008-04-18 ] He later authorized an opposition to take place in Yerevan [cite news
title = [http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2008/04/CEEF3F0C-795A-494E-9953-2B516D424745.asp Thousands Rally In Yerevan With Rare Government Consent]
publisher = ArmeniaLiberty/Radio Free Europe
author = Astghik Bedevian
date = 2008-04-21
accessdate = 2008-04-21 ] and pledged to comply with the Council of Europe's demands for an end to the government's crackdown on the opposition. [cite news
title = [http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2008/04/E18A643E-80D2-4249-85BE-2E2E90687257.ASP Sarkisian Pledges To Meet Council Of Europe Demands]
publisher = ArmeniaLiberty/Radio Free Europe
author = Hovannes Shoghikian and Emil Danielyan
date = 2008-04-25
accessdate = 2008-04-25 ]

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. [cite news
title = [http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2008/04/FEDEF892-623F-46EF-95C2-0704D96867DC.asp Sarkisian Reaffirms Armenian Policy On Turkey]
publisher = ArmeniaLiberty/Radio Free Europe
author = Emil Danielyan
date = 2008-04-24
accessdate = 2008-04-24
publisher = The Economist
date = 2008-02-21
accessdate = 2008-02-21 ] 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." [ [http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=25331 "Armenia doesn’t view Kosovo as precedent"] , "PanArmenian.net", 12 March 2008. Link accessed 2008-03-12.]

Sargsyan made his first address in front of the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 25 2008. In his address he referenced the 2008 South Ossetia conflict and emphasized the need for the United Nations to help bring peaceful resolution to armed conflicts around the world, including the one in Nagorno-Karabagh. He also mentioned how Azerbaijan's military buildup along with increasing war rhetoric and threats risked causing renewed problems in the South Caucasus. [http://www.asbarez.com/index.html?showarticle=35488_9/29/2008_1]

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"

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".

References

External links

* [http://www.serzhsargsyan.am/?l=eng&page=home Official personal website]
* [http://www.hhk.am/eng/persons/serge_sargsyan.html Official website of the Republican Party of Armenia]