Armenian president, Russian ambassador discussed bilateral agenda

YEREVAN, March 21. /ARKA/. Armenia's new President Vahagn Khachatryan, who took office on March 13, received today Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin.

According to the presidential press service, Ambassador Kopyrkin congratulated Khachatryan on assuming the position of President. They were said to have exchanged views on Armenian-Russian relations agenda.

Vahagn Khachatryan was elected President on March 3 by a vote of 71 by the Armenian parliament, dominated by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract Party. The opposition Hayastan and Pativ Unem alliances refused to take part in the elections.

Vahagn Khachatryan, 63, who served as High-Tech Industry Minister, was the only candidate. He has replaced Armen Sarkissian, who announced his resignation on January 23 citing lack of tools to influence the country’s foreign and domestic policies.

Under a package of constitutional reforms, endorsed in a national referendum in 2015, Armenia changed the governance system of the country from a semi-presidential to a parliamentary republic in 2018 April.

The president of Armenia, whose powers are significantly curtailed, is elected for a term of seven years by the parliament. Presidents are limited to one term of office. -0-