Armenia’s ruling party made up its mind about composition of new cabinet

YEREVAN, May 8. /ARKA/. The ruling Republican party of Armenia has made its mind up about the new cabinet members, Novosti-Armenia reports.

The decision was made at party’s executive and council meeting Tuesday.

Proposed by Armenia’s premier Tigran Sargsyan the post of the head of government administration will be given a minister status due to the new reforms initiated by the government. The minister of finance Vache Gabrielyan will become the head of administration instead of David Sargsyan who will head the ministry of finance, vice-speaker of Armenian parliament Edward Sharmazanov said.

Legendary weightlifter Yuri Vardanyan will replace Hrachyan Rostomyan as the minister of youth affairs and sports.

Minister of economy Tigran Davtyan will become Armenia’s representative to WTO leaving his post to an international expert and ex-minister of economy Vahram Avanesyan, Sharmazanov reported.

Sharmazanov also said the minister of territorial administration Armen Gevorgyan and other RPA ministers will retain their posts (Hranush Hakobyan as minister of diaspora, Hasmik Poghosyan as minister of culture, Armen Ashotyan as minister of education and science, Aram Harutiunyan as minister of environment, Gagik Beglaryan as minister of transport, Artem Asatryan as minister of labour, Armen Movsisyan as minister of energy and natural resources and Hrayr Tovmasyan as minister of justice).

RPA’s coalition partner Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) party will retain posts of urban planning, emergency and agriculture ministers.

The party itself will make up its mind and propose candidacies, Sharmazanov said.

Under the Armenian constitution article 55, reelected president Serzh Sargsyan was sworn in on April 9th and accepted the resignation of the government on the same day. 

The new cabinet is formed within 20 days after the appointment of the premier. Premier Tigran Sargsyan was reappointed by the president on April 19. Minister of defense Seyran Ohanyan and foreign minister Edward Nalbandyan were re-appointed on the next day. –0—