President Sarkisian and Prime Minister Sargsyan during Thursday's Republican Party of Armenia meeting (Photolure)

Foreign and Defense Minister Also Remain

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—President Serzh Sarkisian announced late on Thursday his decision to reappoint Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and two other key ministers to his new cabinet that will be formed in the next few weeks.

Acting in accordance with Armenia’s constitution, Tigran Sargsyan and all 18 government ministers tendered their resignation hours after the president was sworn in for a second term on April 9.

The constitution gives the head of state 10 days to appoint a prime minister. He has another 20 days to name the cabinet members.

Sarkisian presented his decision to reappoint the premier as well as Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian at a meeting of the governing body of his Republican Party. The board promptly endorsed the move.

The Republican Party of Armenia sources said the party leadership did not discuss other ministerial appointments.

Sarkisian indicated shortly after his reelection in February that he is not planning sweeping personnel changes because he considers the outgoing government’s economic record satisfactory. He thanked the cabinet for its “effective work” when formally accepting its resignation on April 9. He acknowledged at the same time that “a huge number of our citizens are unhappy with our work.”

Sargsyan was first appointed as prime minister in April 2008. The 53-year-old economist previously headed the Central Bank of Armenia.