ARMENIA’S RULING PARTY NOMINATES BANK CHIEF FOR PM

Agence France Presse — English
April 8, 2008 Tuesday

Armenia’s ruling Republican Party has nominated the ex-Soviet
republic’s central bank chief as prime minister in president-elect
Serzh Sarkisian’s new government, a party leader said Tuesday.

"We have decided on the candidacy of Tigran Sarkisian based on his
experience and knowledge," Republican Party Deputy Chairman Galust
Sahakian said in televised remarks.

Serzh Sarkisian, the current prime minister, will be inaugurated
as Armenia’s new president on Wednesday following a poll victory in
February marred by post-election violence that left eight dead.

He will have 10 days following the inauguration to appoint a
replacement prime minister, who will then have 20 days to form new
government.

Tigran Sarkisian, who has been Central Bank chief since 1998 and is
not related to the president-elect, could not be reached for comment.

The Republican Party controls a majority of seats in Armenia’s
parliament, giving it the power to push through any government nominee.

Armenia’s opposition claims authorities rigged the election to ensure
victory for Serzh Sarkisian, outgoing President Robert Kocharian’s
hand-picked successor.

Thousands of supporters of opposition candidate and former president
Levon Ter-Petrosian rallied for 11 days against the result of the
vote before riot police moved to disperse them on March 1, sparking
violent street unrest.

The mountainous country of about three million people — wedged between
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran and Turkey — has seen repeated political
violence and post-election protests since gaining its independence
with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.