NEW AMBASSADORIAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE NEW

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 002226

SIPDIS

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DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN
USOSCE FOR TRAUB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR AM
SUBJECT: NEW AMBASSADORIAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE NEW
YEAR


Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.

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SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) President Kocharian recently announced two new
ambassadorial appointments, naming Ashot Hovakimian
Ambassador to Austria (replacing Jivan Tabibian) and
Ashot Galoyan as Ambassador to Poland (replacing Ashot
Hovakimian). (Note: While the presidential
proclamation does not explicitly identify Hovakimian as
the new Permanent Representative to the OSCE, we expect
that Hovakimian will replace Tabibian in that position
as well. End Note.) End Summary.

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OFFICIAL BIO NOTES FOR HOVAKIMIAN
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2. (SBU) Ashot Hovakimyan was born on November 16, 1961
in Yerevan.

In 1983 he graduated from the philological department
of the Moscow State University (Lomonosov),majoring in
Slavonic languages.

In 1987 he finished the post-graduate school of USSR
Academy of Sciences studying the science of Slavonic
languages and History of Balkans. His PhD thesis was
on Armenian-South-Slavonic culture and literature
connections at the end of the 18th century to the
beginning of the 20th century.

From 1988-1992 he was the employee of the Literature
Institute of Academy of Science of Republic of Armenia
(RA).

Starting from 1992 he was the Deputy Secretary of
European Affairs of the National Academy of Science of
RA.

From 1993 to 1996 he was the Charge d'Affairs of
Armenian Embassy in Greece, and later became the First
Secretary.

SIPDIS

From 1996 to 1998 he was the Head of the second
European Section representing European Affairs in the
National Academy of Science of RA.

From July to November 1998 he was the Assistant to the
Head of National Academy of Science.

Starting from April 1998 he became the Charge d'Affairs
of the Armenian Embassy in Lebanon.

In 1999 he became the Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon,
and in 2000 combined the position with becoming the
Ambassador of Armenia in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

He has written two scientific works, and roughly 60
scientific and political articles, has participated in
various international conferences.

He speaks English, Russian, Serbian, Croatian, Polish
and Greek.

Married, has a son and a daughter.

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OFFICIAL BIO NOTES FOR GALOYAN
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3. (SBU) Ashot Galoyan was born in Vanadzor in 1956.
He graduated from the Yerevan State University (Faculty
of History),then Post-graduate course. Candidate of
Historical Sciences.

From 1979-82 he worked as Assistant to the Rector of
Yerevan State University.

From 1982-85 Secretary to Yerevan State University
Komsomol Committee.

From 1985-88 Lecturer in Yerevan State University,
Faculty of History.

From 1987-88 (on an IREX project) he was a lecturer and
researcher in Michigan and California Universities.

From 1993-95 Fulbright lecturer at UCLA Political
Sciences Department.
From 1995-97 Professor in History and Political
Sciences Department of UCLA.

In 1997 Senior Lecturer at the American University in
Armenia.

From 1989 to present, Associate Professor at the State
University, Professor of Yerevan's H.Acharyan
University.
From 1999-2003 National Assembly Deputy, Member of the
Committee on Foreign Relations. Starting from 2001
Armenian Delegation Member in EU.

In 2003 Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
He has published 30 articles as well as a handbook
dedicated to events in the Caucasus during the 19th and
20th centuries.
Languages: English, Russian and Armenia
Married, has three sons.
GODFREY