Kocharian, Robert

Kocharian, Robert

▪ president of Armenia
in full  Robert Sedraki Kocharian 
born Aug. 31, 1954, Stepanakert [now Xankändi], Azer.

      Armenian politician who served as president of Armenia (1998–2008). His political career focused primarily on the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a self-declared country whose territory is claimed by both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

      Kocharian's father, Sedrak Kocharian, held various leadership positions in Nagorno-Karabakh, then an autonomous oblast (province) of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. Robert Kocharian served in the Soviet army (1972–74) before graduating from Yerevan Polytechnic Institute in 1982. Although he was later an official in the Soviet Communist Party (Communist Party of the Soviet Union), he claimed no party affiliation after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1990. By the late 1980s, Kocharian had become a leader in the movement in Nagorno-Karabakh to break away from Azerbaijan and join Armenia. As chairman of the state defense committee and prime minister of Nagorno-Karabakh after the region declared its independence in 1992, Kocharian led war efforts against Azerbaijan. After a cease-fire was declared in 1994, he was elected the first president of the newly established Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, although the country's independence was not recognized internationally.

      In 1997 Kocharian left his post in Nagorno-Karabakh when he was appointed prime minister of Armenia. He was elected president of Armenia the following year. Despite controversy over whether he was eligible to compete in the election (he had only an Armenian passport and still claimed to be a citizen of Nagorno-Karabakh), he enjoyed the backing of the army and the Dashnaks, the country's most organized political party. He was returned to office in 2003 in an election marked by allegations of fraud. During his presidency he continued to work toward a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Robert Kocharián — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Robert Kocharián Robert Sedraki Kocharián …   Wikipedia Español

  • Robert Kocharian — (1954), político de Armenia, presidente de la República. Sirvió a la armada soviética cuando Armenia formaba parte de la URSS. En marzo de 1997 fue nombrado Primer Ministro de la República de Armenia …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Robert Kocharyan — Infobox President name = Robert Sedraki Kocharyan hy. Ռոբերտ Սեդրակի Քոչարյան office = 2nd President of Armenia primeminister = Armen Darbinyan Vazgen Sargsyan Aram Sargsyan Andranik Margaryan Serzh Sargsyan vicepresident = term start = 4… …   Wikipedia

  • Armenia — /ahr mee nee euh, meen yeuh/; for 3 also Sp. /ahrdd me nyah/, n. 1. an ancient country in W Asia: now divided between Armenia, Turkey, and Iran. 2. Also called, Armenian Republic. a republic in Transcaucasia, S of Georgia and W of Azerbaijan.… …   Universalium

  • 2008 Armenian presidential election protests — The 2008 Armenian presidential election protests were a series of mass protests held in Armenia in the wake of the Armenian presidential election of February 19, 2008. Mass protests against alleged electoral fraud were held in the capital city of …   Wikipedia

  • Politics of Armenia — takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President is the head of government, and of a platform multi party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in …   Wikipedia

  • Armenia–Russia relations — Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Russia were established on April 3, 1992.Armenia is considered as the only ally of Russia in all of Transcaucasia. The positions of Russia and Armenia in the majority of key international problems are… …   Wikipedia

  • Kurdish recognition of the Armenian genocide — The Kurdish communities, political parties and newspapers worldwide has several times recognized the Armenian genocide. The beginning of the Kurdish history in the 20th century begins with the participation of Ottoman Kurds in the massacring of… …   Wikipedia

  • Gagik Tsarukyan — Գագիկ Նիկոլայի Ծառուկյան Born 25 November 1956 (1956 11 25) (age 54) Arindj, Armenia …   Wikipedia

  • República del Alto Karabaj — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Para la región, véase Alto Karabaj Լեռնային Ղարաբաղի Հանրապետություն Lernayin Gharabaghi Hanrapetutyun República del Alto Karabaj …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”