The three factions in the ninth-convocation National Assembly of Armenia have elected their leaders and secretaries.

The announcement was made during the inaugural session of parliament by Knyaz Hasanov, the oldest member of parliament, who chaired the sitting.

Arusyak Manavazyan was elected leader of the Civil Contract faction, while Volodya Hakobyan was elected faction secretary.

The Strong Armenia faction will be headed by Narek Karapetyan, with Tigran Abrahamyan serving as faction secretary.

Anna Grigoryan was elected leader of the Armenia faction, while Artur Khachatryan was elected secretary.

In the ninth-convocation National Assembly, the Civil Contract faction holds 64 seats, the Strong Armenia faction 29 seats, and the Armenia faction 12 seats.

The inaugural session of Armenia’s newly elected National Assembly, formed following the parliamentary elections held on June 7, opened with the swearing-in ceremony of members of parliament.

Knyaz Hasanov, a Civil Contract MP who chaired the sitting as the oldest member of parliament, read out the oath of office.

“For the perpetuity, independence, sovereignty and strengthening of the Republic of Armenia, I swear to conscientiously fulfil my duties as a representative of the people, to uphold the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Armenia, to contribute to strengthening the statehood of the Republic of Armenia and protecting its interests, and to do everything in my power to promote civil solidarity, the security and well-being of the citizens of the Republic of Armenia, and the protection of human rights and freedoms. Glory to the fallen heroes, and long live the Republic of Armenia. I swear.” 

Lawmakers from the opposition Strong Armenia Alliance and Armenia Alliance remained seated during the oath-taking ceremony, while members of the ruling Civil Contract faction stood and recited the oath aloud, unlike their opposition colleagues.

The MPs then signed the text of the oath provided to them.

 Although the opposition lawmakers declined to recite the oath aloud, they nevertheless signed the oath text.

Before the swearing-in ceremony began, opposition lawmakers protested the absence of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II from the inaugural sitting of the National Assembly.

Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan has accepted the government’s resignation.

The corresponding decree was published on the official website of the President of Armenia. 

“Pursuant to Article 130 of the Constitution, the resignation of the Government is hereby accepted,” the presidential decree reads.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that, in accordance with the Constitution, the government had submitted its resignation on the day of the inaugural session of the newly elected National Assembly.

 Pashinyan signed the letter of resignation addressed to the president, which was subsequently sent to the Office of the President.

 The inaugural session of Armenia’s newly elected parliament is taking place on August 2.

Armenia’s internationally recognised territory of 29,743 square kilometres is a complete and non-negotiable red line, Ruben Rubinyan, the candidate for Speaker of the National Assembly, has said.

Rubinyan made the statement in response to a question from Ishkhan Saghatelyan, a lawmaker from the Armenia faction.

Saghatelyan asked whether Rubinyan, as a candidate for Speaker of the National Assembly, could guarantee that the authorities would not, under any circumstances or pretext, hand over Tigranashen.

“I can guarantee that Armenia’s internationally recognised territory is 29,743 square kilometres, and this is a complete and non-negotiable red line,” Rubinyan replied.

According to him, the government’s programme, which has received the approval of the people, stipulates that all territories within Armenia’s internationally recognised borders must remain under Armenia’s control.

“I can guarantee that the programme announced by the Armenian government and endorsed by the people is that all territories within Armenia’s internationally recognised borders must be under our control, and this issue must be resolved within the framework of the border delimitation process,” the candidate for Speaker of the National Assembly said.

Rubinyan added that other issues arising during the border delimitation process could be resolved in different ways under the Rules of Procedure of the Border Delimitation Commissions.

“As for other issues, they may be resolved in different ways in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Border Delimitation Commissions. The rules allow for certain optimisations, but even in such cases, this would require a referendum,” Rubinyan said.

The Strong Armenia faction has nominated Aram Vardevanyan for the post of Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

Faction leader Narek Karapetyan announced the nomination during a briefing with journalists.

Asked why the faction had selected Vardevanyan as its candidate, Karapetyan said the decision was based on his professional experience.

“Experience and professionalism. He is one of the best professionals, and for a legislator that is one of the main criteria,” Karapetyan added.

The National Assembly has three deputy speakers, one of whom is nominated from among lawmakers representing the opposition factions.

The deputy speakers are elected separately by secret ballot, requiring the support of a majority of the total number of MPs.

Earlier, the ruling Civil Contract party announced that it would nominate Hayk Konjoryan and Vahagn Aleksanyan for the posts of deputy speaker.

Armenia is ready to open its border with Türkiye to third-country nationals and holders of diplomatic passports and is awaiting Türkiye’s implementation of the agreement, Ruben Rubinyan, candidate for Speaker of the National Assembly, has said.

Rubinyan made the remarks during the inaugural session of the ninth-convocation National Assembly in response to a question from Agnesa Khamoyan, a lawmaker from the Armenia faction.

Khamoyan asked what results had been achieved during the past five years of the Armenia-Türkiye normalisation process and why the 2022 agreement to open the border to third-country nationals had not yet been implemented.

“This process, which is, if I am not mistaken, the fourth in Armenia’s history, began in December 2021, and we held our first meeting at the beginning of 2022. A number of agreements have already been implemented, while others are still awaiting implementation,” Rubinyan said.

According to him, one of the implemented agreements was the restoration of direct Yerevan-Istanbul flights.

“As of 2022, those flights had not been operating for several years. More recently, the number of flights has increased. Another implemented agreement was the establishment of direct air cargo services between the two countries,” he said.

Rubinyan also said that conditions had been created for direct trade between Armenia and Türkiye.

“Until recently, for example, goods exported from Armenia to Türkiye or imported from Türkiye to Armenia had to be processed through the territory of Georgia for customs purposes before being cleared. About one or two months ago, the Turkish side removed that restriction,” he said.

According to the candidate for Speaker, another important development was the opportunity for Armenian businesses to use the Akhalkalaki-Kars railway.

“Initially, the restriction on railway transit for the Armenian side through the territory of Azerbaijan was lifted, and now the same has happened through the territory of Türkiye. This gives our businesses access to the Turkish market, as well as to European Union markets and even the Syrian market via Türkiye. This is a very important development,” Rubinyan said.

He also noted that the sides had reached an agreement on the joint restoration of the historic Ani Bridge.

Responding to Rubinyan’s remarks, Khamoyan said that the key issue remained the opening of the Armenia-Türkiye border, which has yet to be be resolved.

“In 2022, you announced with great fanfare that the border would be opened to third-country nationals. Why has that agreement not been implemented? Why have you failed to reach agreement on opening the border?” Khamoyan asked.

Rubinyan said Armenia and Türkiye had established a working group to discuss the technical requirements for restoring and reopening the Gyumri-Kars railway.

“Both sides have stated at the level of their foreign ministries that this is the objective, and a working group has been established. Moreover, Türkiye has already begun rehabilitation work on its section of the Gyumri-Kars railway up to the Armenian border,” Rubinyan said.

Referring to the agreement to open the border to third-country nationals and holders of diplomatic passports, he said Armenia’s infrastructure had long been ready.

“The Turkish side has also recently completed the renovation and restoration of its infrastructure, and we are now awaiting implementation of the agreement,” Rubinyan concluded.