Armen Sarkissian signs decree to appoint Serzh Sargsyan Prime Pinister

President Armenia Sarkissian has signed a decree to appoint Serzh Sargsyan the prime minister of Armenia, reports the Government's press service.

Under the amended Constitution (Section 5, Article 149), the president appoints the chief of cabinet based on the outcomes of the parliamentary voting conducted within seven days after the executive's resignation.

The former cabinet of ministers, led by Karen Karapetyan, resigned after Sarkissian's inauguration last Monday.

The National Assembly's voted 77/17 today to elect Sargsyan, the ruling Republican Party's only nominee, the first prime minister of the parliamentary republic.

In a speech at the parliamentary debate preceding the voting, Vaharam Baghdasaryan, the leader of the ruling Republican faction in parliament, described the day as a "historic moment" for the country.

Sargsyan's nomination received support also by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaksutyun (ARF-D), the Republican's coalition partner, at a joint session held Monday.