SARGSIAN APPOINTS THREE NEW MINISTERS TO REPLACE DASHNAKS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 000323 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL KDEM AM SUBJECT: SARGSIAN APPOINTS THREE NEW MINISTERS TO REPLACE DASHNAKS REF: Yerevan 278 YEREVAN 00000323 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) On May 12, President Sargsian signed a decree replacing the three ministers from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation - Dashnaktsutiun (Dashnaks) who resigned their posts on April 27, when the Dashnaks withdrew from the four-party ruling coalition in protest of Sargsian's efforts to normalize relations with Turkey (reftel). ¶2. (SBU) The new ministers appointed by Sargsian are Gevorg Petrosian of the Prosperous Armenia party as Minister of Labor and Social issues; Armen Ashotian of the Republican Party of Armenia as Minister of Education and Science; and Gerasim Alaverdian of the Orinats Yerkir (Rule of Law) Party as Minister of Agriculture. All three positions went to the remaining three members of the ruling coalition. ¶3. (SBU) As reftel described, the Dashnaks bolted from the coalition on April 27 in protest of President Sargsian's recent efforts to normalize relations with Turkey. In addition to resigning their ministerial posts, the Dashnaks also yielded at least a dozen deputy minister posts, as well as one allotted seat in Armenia's National Security Council. The Dashnaks had been part of a succession of ruling coalitions in Armenia's parliament dating back to 2003. BIO NOTES ON NEW MINIISTERS -------------- A.) Gevorg Petrosian, Prosperous Armenia, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs 1972 born in Yerevan 1995 graduated from Yerevan State University's Law Department with honors. 1995 received military training and a rank of an officer 1995 received post-graduate studies at Yerevan State University's Law Department 1996-present served as lecture at YSU's Law Department 1998 received his PhD in 1998, became a member of the Lawyers Union of Armenia. 1996-2001 worked as the Dean of the Law Department of Grigor Zohrab University of Yerevan. 2002-2005 worked as the head of department of social sciences at the Mkhitar Gosh University of Vanadzor. 2004-2005 worked in Yerevan's Nor-Nork's community administration as adviser to the community head, and later as his chief of staff. 2005-2009 worked at the national phone company Armentel as legal adviser to the chief director, and later on as senior expert on labor rights. 2007-2008 worked at the Oversight Chamber (equivalent of the GAO in the United States) as head of the legal oversight department. Has authored school textbooks "Bases of State and Law" (1998), "State and Law" (2001),as well as the university textbook "RA Labor Code" (2009). 2006 joined Prosperous Armenia Party 2007 was elected to PA's Political Council. Married, has 3 children. B.) Gerasim Alaverdyan, Rule of Law, Minister of Agriculture 1965 born in Srashen village of Kapan, Syunik Marz. 1983-85 served in Soviet Army internal troops 1985-91 studied and graduated from Yerevan Polytechnic Institute, Department of Technology, Specialist in Engineering and Technology 1985-94 worked in N1 Kapan Industrial Union as a laborer, junior specialist, chief of unit. 1994-2003 worked in Armenian Tax system "Kapan regional tax agency" as tax inspector, senior inspector, later as a Head of Operative Investigation Department of Ministry of State Revenues, Syunik Marz division 2004-2008 worked in Oversight Chamber as a Board member, then as a Head of State Budget Oversight Department 2008-to 2009 works in Oversight Chamber as Head of Department (agricultural, environmental and water system affairs) Board Member of Rule of Law Party. Chairman of Orinats Yerkir Party Committee on Agrarian issues. Married with two children, son and a daughter C.) Armen Ashotian, Republican Party of Armenia, Minister of Education and Science 1975 born in Yerevan. 1998 graduated from the faculty of General Practice of Mkhitar Heratsi Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU) with a specialization General Medicine. 2000 graduated the clinical residency training from YSMU with the specialization of Forensic Medicine. YEREVAN 00000323 002.2 OF 002 2003 defended his thesis and received the degree of Candidate of Science in Medicine. 1999-2000 worked as senior laboratory assistant to the Chair of YSMU's Forensic Medicine department 2002 entered the State Management Academy. 2002-2005 worked as Assistant to Rector of YSMU. 2003 worked as Assistant to the Chair of Biochemistry of YSMU. 2005 finished the Moscow School of Political Research. 2005-2006 worked as Advisor to the Rector of YSMU on a volunteer basis. 2006 till present serves as Docent of YSMU Chair of Biochemistry. 2005-2007 served as member of parliament representing the Republican Party of Armenia; served as member of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Health Care and Environment. 2007 re-elected as MP representing the RPA, became member of RPA Council. Married and has one son. YOVANOVITCH