Nikol Pashinyan is prime minister

Armenia’s parliament yesterday voted 59 to 42 to appoint Pashinyan as prime minister, sparking celebrations in the streets among the latter’s supporters. Pashinyan reassured lawmakers and Moscow that ties with Russia remain a priority. Putin welcomed the new Armenian prime minister, expressing hope that "friendly” relations between the two countries will continue.

Erevan (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan is Armenia’s new prime minister. After rejecting him last week, the country’s National Assembly voted 59 to 42 in his favour.

When his appointment was announced, thousands of supporters cheered in Yerevan’s Republic Square.

After six weeks of peaceful upheaval, unprecedented in the history of former Soviet republics, Serzh Sargsyan's ten-year rule ended in what Pashinyan himself described as a Velvet Revolution.

With respect to the country’s foreign relations, little has changed: Armenia will continue to maintain privileged ties with Russia, which has silently followed recent developments in the Caucasian nation.

Pashinyan told MPs that relations with Moscow remain a priority, especially in terms of military cooperation.

For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the success of the new Armenian prime minister, saying he wants to see "friendly” relations between the two countries to continue.

Meanwhile, the conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorny Karabakh, a mountainous Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan, is still looking for a solution.

• armenia
• nikol pashinyan
• serzh sargsyan
• velvet revolution
• russia
• azerbaijan
• nagorny karabakh