SERGE SARGSIAN ELECTED ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT, ACCORDING TO FINAL RESULT OF CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION
ARKA
Feb 25, 2008
YEREVAN, February 25. /ARKA/. Serge Sargsian is elected Armenia’s
President, according to the final results of the RA Central Electoral
Commission (CEC). In the recent presidential election Sargsian
earned 52.82% (862,369) of the votes, Armenia’s ex-President Levon
Ter-Petrosian trailed on 21.5% (351,222).
RA NA (National Assembly) former Speaker, Leader of the Orinats Yerkir
(State of Law) Party Arthur Baghdasarian gained 17.7% (272,427),
ARF-D (Armenian revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun) Leader Vahan
Hovhannisyan had 6.2% (100,966) Leader of the National Democratic
Union (NDU) Vazgen Manukian gained 1.3% (21,075) of the votes, Head
of the People’s Party Tigran Karapetian had 0.6% (9,792), Chairman
of the National Unity Party Artashes Geghamian had 0.46% (7,524),
former NKR Foreign Minister Arman Melikyan gained (0.27%) 4,399,
Leader of the National Accord Party Aram Harutyunyan earned 0.17%
(2,892) of the votes.
Out of eight CEC members, six have signed the document. The
representatives of the Orinats Yerkir and Zharangutyun (Heritage)
opposition parties did not participate in the sitting.
Complaints lodged to CEC from on February 19-24 did not influence
the final results of the presidential election, CEC Secretary Abraham
Bakhchagulian said.
ARF representative Hamlet Abrahamian made a statement during the
sitting. He was quoted as saying: "Violations I observed while signing
the preliminary results of the polls, as well as briberies ingrained
in Armenia’s electoral system since 1996, as well as violence testify
to the fact that the country’s current electoral system needs serious
and drastic changes."
Serge Sargsian was born in Stepanakert on June 30, 1954. In 1971 he
entered the Philological Department of the Yerevan State University
(YSU). IN 1972-1974 Sargsian served in the Soviet Army. In 1979 he
graduated YSU.
In 1979-1988 he was Head of Stepanakert City Committee Division of the
Young Communist Union ("LKEM"), Second Secretary, First Secretary,
Head of Propaganda and Agitation Division of the Stepanakert City
Communist Party Committee, Assistant to the First Secretary of the
Mountainous Karabagh Marz Committee.
In 1989-1993 Sargsian was Chairman of the NKR Self-Defense Forces
Committee.
In 1990-1993 he was Member of the RA National Assembly. In 1993-1995
Sargsian was RA Defense Minister and in 1995-1996 was Head of
RA National Security Department, later, RA Minister of National
Security. In 1996 he became RA Minister of Interior and National
Security. In 1999 Sargsian was RA Minister of National Security.
In 1999-2007 he was Secretary of the National Security Council adjunct
to the RA President. In 2000-2007 Sargsian was RA Defense Minister. As
from April to June, 2007 he was appointed RA Prime Minister.
On June 7, 2007 – He was re-appointed RA Prime Minister and headed
the new government cabinet, formed as a result of the parliamentary
elections of the Republic of Armenia.
Sargsian has been member of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
since 2006. From July 2006 to November 2007 he was RPA Council’s
Chairman and in November 2007 was appointed RPA Chairman.
He is also Chairman of the YSU Council and President of the Chess
Federation of Armenia.
Sargsian is Artsakh Hero and is conferred Order of "Martakan Khach"
(battle crest) First Degree, Knight of "Voske Artsiv" ("Golden Eagle")
Order and "Tigran Mets" First-Degree Order.
Sargsian is married. His spouse, Rita Sargsian, was born in a
serviceman’s family in Stepanakert. She is a teacher of music. Sargsian
has two daughters (Anush and Satenik) and a granddaughter (Mariam).