Ambassador Armen Sarkissian (left) meets with President Serzh Sarkisian on Friday after being nominated for president by the ruling Republican Party of Armenia
YEREVAN—The ruling Republican Party of Armenia on Thursday nominated Armenia’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Great Britain and former prime minister Dr. Armen Sarkissian as its candidate for president of Armenia, the election for which will be held on March 2 by the National Assembly.
The announcement by the party ended a week-long speculation by the press in Armenia and chatter that dominated social media.
Under Armenia’s new constitution, the president is elected by the National Assembly and will occupy a more symbolic leadership position in the country, with the prime minister becoming head of state.
Dr. Sarkissian met with President Serzh Sarkisian (no relation) on Friday and expressed gratitude for the trust that the Republican Party of Armenia has expressed in him with the nomination.
Saying he needed time to consider the nomination, Dr. Sarkissian also added that he would like to meet with political forces in Armenia, as well as civil society representatives, business leaders, non-governmental organizations and lay citizens of Armenia before accepting the nomination. He also expressed the desire to meet with the leadership of Artsakh and the Diaspora.
“I believe the 4th President of Armenia must be an accomplished and bright individual, must be trained politically and ready, but not politicized. He must be able to organize dialogue between different political powers, as well as for the goal of decreasing tension between various social classes, if necessary. He must be able to honorably represent Armenia abroad, to know the Diaspora and be able to unite the Diaspora of Armenia,â€
