Armenian president makes first appointments to his administration

YEREVAN, April 11. /ARKA/. Armenia’s president Armen Sarkissian signed on Wednesday decrees on  first appointments to his administration. According to his press service, Hamlet Gasparyan was appointed as adviser to the president.

Previously, Gasparyan served as an adviser to the Armenian foreign minister, as well as the head of the political planning department at the foreign ministry. Another newly appointed adviser to the president is Ara Aleksanyan, who will hold this post on a voluntary basis.

Alexanyan is a doctor of physics and mathematics, professor at Yerevan State University. Hasmik Petrosyan was appointed another advisor to the president.

In 2015 Armenian voters approved shifting from the so-called semi-presidential form of  government to a parliamentary republic. Under the change, the presidency is largely a ceremonial position. Armen Sarkissian, Armenia’s former ambassador to UK, the new president, was chosen for the post last month by the parliament, unlike his predecessors who were elected in a national vote. -0-