Armenian president makes first cabinet appointments

Armenian president Armen Sarkissian has appointed today former prime minister Karen Karapetyan as first deputy prime minister. br /

YEREVAN, April nbsp;18. /ARKA/. Armenian president Armen Sarkissian has appointed today former prime minister Karen Karapetyan as first deputy prime minister. The president has also appointed nbsp;Armen Gevorgyan and Vache Gabrielyan as deputy prime ministers.br

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Before this appointment Armen Gevrogyan served as chief of presidential staff, while Vatche Gabrielyan served as deputy prime minister and minister for international economic integration and reform.nbsp;br

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Former president Serzh Sargsyan was replaced by Armen Sarkissian, who was inaugurated as the fourth president of Armenia on April 9. He became the first head of state, elected by the parliament after the country's transition to a parliamentary form of government.nbsp;br

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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. nbsp;Serzh Sargsyan was elected as prime minister during a special session of parliament on Tuesday by a vote of 77 to 17.-0-br

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