Robert Sedraki Kocharian (IPA: [ɾobɛɹtʼ sɛdɹɑk’i kʰotʃʰɑɹjɑn], Armenian: Ռոբերտ Սեդրակի Քոչարյան) (born August 31, 1954) is the second president of the third republic of Armenia. There have been two Presidents of Armenia since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. ... For the ecclesiastical office, see Incumbent (ecclesiastical). ... is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Levon Ter-Petrossian (Armenian: Ô¼Ö‡Õ¸Õ¶ Տեր-ÕŠÕ¥Õ¿Ö€Õ¸Õ½ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Russian: Левон Тер-Петросян) (born January 9, 1945 in Aleppo, Syria in a family of a Syrian Communist) was the President of Armenia from 1991 to 1998. ... is the 243rd day of the year (244th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Province: Stepanakert (City) Area: Altitude: 813 meter (2670 feet) Population: ~40,000 Population density: Latitude: 39° 48 55N Longitude: 46° 45 7E Mayor: Eduard Aghabekian Map of Azerbaijan showing town of Stepanakert within Nagorno-Karabakh. ... The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast was an autonomous oblast of the Soviet Union created in the Azerbaijan SSR in 1923. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Armenian Apostolic Church, sometimes called the Armenian Orthodox Church is one of the original churches, having separated from the then-still-united Roman Catholic/Byzantine Orthodox church in 506, after the Council of Chalcedon (see Oriental Orthodoxy). ... Articles with similar titles include the NATO phonetic alphabet, which has also informally been called the “International Phonetic Alphabet”. For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words, see IPA chart for English. ... is the 243rd day of the year (244th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Personal details

Robert Kocharian, who speaks fluent Armenian, Russian and English, was born in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, at that time the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast under the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. He received his secondary education there and from 1972 to 1974 served in the Soviet Army. He and his wife, Bella Kocharian, have three children: Sedrak, Gayane, and Levon, each of whom was born in Stepanakert. His wife, also born in Stepanakert, is a graduate of the Yerevan Medical Institute and each of his children is an alumnus of Yerevan State University. The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Province: Stepanakert (City) Area: Altitude: 813 meter (2670 feet) Population: ~40,000 Population density: Latitude: 39° 48 55N Longitude: 46° 45 7E Mayor: Eduard Aghabekian Map of Azerbaijan showing town of Stepanakert within Nagorno-Karabakh. ... Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijani: Dağlıq Qarabağ or Yuxarı Qarabağ, literally mountainous black garden or upper black garden; Russian: Нагорный Карабах, translit. ... The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast was an autonomous oblast of the Soviet Union created in the Azerbaijan SSR in 1923. ... State motto: Бүтүн өлкәләрин пролетарлары, бирләшин! Workers of the world, unite! Official language None. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Yerevan State University (Armenian: ÔµÖ€Õ¥Õ¾Õ¡Õ¶Õ« ÕŠÕ¥Õ¿Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ€Õ¡Õ´Õ¡Õ¬Õ½Õ¡Ö€Õ¡Õ¶) is a university, located in Yerevan, Armenia. ...

Early career

Kocharian's career began as an engineer at Stepanakert's electro-technical plant in 1971. After starting as a turner, he was later promoted to the post of mechanical engineer. In 1982, he graduated from Yerevan Polytechnic Institute's Electro-Technical Department with honors. Province: Stepanakert (City) Area: Altitude: 813 meter (2670 feet) Population: ~40,000 Population density: Latitude: 39° 48 55N Longitude: 46° 45 7E Mayor: Eduard Aghabekian Map of Azerbaijan showing town of Stepanakert within Nagorno-Karabakh. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Logo Of SEUA State Engineering University of Armenia (Armenian: Հայաստանի Պետական Ճարտարագիտական Համալսարան) is a technical university located in Yerevan, Armenia that is a successor to Yerevan Politechnic Institute established in 1933 provides educational and research programs in various fields of technology and science related to engineering. ...

Kocharian was drawn to politics after joining a movement to cede the land of Nagorno-Karabakh, his birth place, from the Azerbaijan SSR to the Armenian SSR. Throughout the 1980s, he occupied various posts in Nagorno-Karabakh's communist youth league and party. By February 1988, Kocharian became one of the leaders in the Karabakh movement, as a member of the Krunk organization. After the organization broke apart, he founded the Miatsum (or Unification) organization. His influential political style brought him through the ranks of Soviet politics and by 1989, emerged as a deputy of Armenia's Supreme Soviet. In 1991, Kocharian was elected a deputy of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic's Supreme Soviet of the first convocation. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... The Supreme Soviet (Russian: , Verhovniy Sovet, literally the Supreme Council) comprised the highest legislative body in the Soviet Union in the interim of the sessions of the Congress of Soviets, and the only one with the power to pass constitutional amendments. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ...

With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict plunged into all-out war. In August 1992, Kocharian became Chairman of the State Defense Committee of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (or NKR). He played a key role in mobilizing forces and stopping the Azerbaijani military offensive that threatened to overrun NKR and remove its population. This made it possible to turn the tide in the war for the Armenians. On May 12, a cease-fire was proclaimed and has largely held since. Kocharian was elected NKR's first President on December 24 by the decision of the NKR Supreme Soviet. Combatants Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh1 Republic of Armenia 2 CIS mercenaries Republic of Azerbaijan Afghan Mujahideen 3 Chechen Volunteers 4 CIS mercenaries Commanders Samvel Babayan, Hemayag Haroyan, Monte Melkonian, Vazgen Sargsyan, Arkady Ter-Tatevosyan Ä°sgandar Hamidov, Suret Huseynov, Rahim Gaziev, Shamil Basayev Casualties 6,000 dead, 25,000 wounded 17... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 132nd day of the year (133rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... An armistice is the effective end of a war, when the warring parties agree to stop fighting. ... is the 358th day of the year (359th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

On March 20, 1997, Kocharian left his post as President when he was appointed Prime Minister of Armenia. In February 1998, Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrossian was forced to step down^[1] after advocating concessions to Azerbaijan in the resolution of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh that many Armenians regarded as undermining their security. His key ministers, led by Kocharian, refused to accept a peace plan for Karabakh put forward by international mediators in September 1997. The plan, accepted by Ter-Petrossian and Azerbaijan, called for a "phased" settlement of the conflict which would postpone an agreement on Karabakh's status. That agreement was to accompany the return of most Armenian-controlled Azerbaijani territories around Karabakh and the lifting of the Azerbaijani and Turkish blockades of Armenia. is the 79th day of the year (80th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... The Prime Minister of Armenia is the most senior minister within the Armenian government, and is required by the constitution to oversee the Governments regular activities [and] coordinate the work of the Ministers. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Levon Ter-Petrossian (Armenian: Լևոն Տեր-Պետրոսյան Russian: Левон Тер-Петросян) (born January 9, 1945 in Aleppo, Syria in a family of a Syrian Communist) was the President of Armenia from 1991 to 1998. ...

Presidency

After Ter-Petrossian's resignation, Kocharian was elected Armenia's second President on March 30, 1998, defeating his main rival, Karen Demirchyan in early presidential marred by irregularities and violations as reported by international electoral observers. Complaints included that he had not been an Armenian citizen for ten years as required by the constitution.^[1] is the 89th day of the year (90th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Karen Serobovich Demirchyan (Yerevan Soviet Union 17 April 1932 - Yerevan Armenia 27 October 1999) was Armenian Communist Party first secretary from 1974 to 1988. ...

In April 2002, less than a year before he was due to seek re-election, Kocharian closed Armenia's main independent TV station, A1 Plus, and kept them off the air. This resulted in criticism from the Council of Europe and international media watchdogs, but A1 Plus is still (2006) not allowed to broadcast.^[2]

On March 5, 2003, Kocharian won re-election for a second term as President. While live television debate between the candidates in 2003 was a first in Armenia and in the CIS, Kocharian's re-election as President was marred by allegations of electoral fraud by both candidates' supporters. In early 2004, there were calls for Kocharian's resignation and opposition-led demonstrators took to the streets in support of demands for a referendum of "no confidence" in him. This article is about the day. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...  Member state  Associate member Headquarters Minsk, Belarus Working language Russian Type Commonwealth Membership 11 member states 1 associate member Leaders  -  Executive Secretary Viktor Yanukovych Establishment December 21, 1991 Website http://cis. ...

Foreign policy

As President, Kocharian continued to negotiate a peaceful resolution with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. Talks between Aliyev and Kocharian were held in September 2004 in Astana, Kazakhstan, on the sidelines of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit. Reportedly, one of the suggestions put forward was the withdrawal of the occupying forces from the Azeri territories adjacent to Nagorno-Karabakh, and holding referendums (plebiscites) in Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan proper regarding the future status of the region. On February 10-11, 2006, Kocharian and Aliev met in Rambouillet, France to discuss the fundamental principles of a settlement to the conflict, including the withdrawal of troops, formation of international peace keeping troops, and the status of Nagorno-Karabakh.^[3] Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev (Azerbaijani: Ä°lham HeydÉ™r oÄŸlu Əliyev) (born December 24, 1961) is the current President of Azerbaijan. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Coordinates: Government  - Mayor Askar Mamin Population (estimated)  - City 600,000 Time zone BTT (UTC+6) This article is about the capital of Kazakhstan; for the article on the palace in Sarawak, see Astana (Sarawak); for the professional road-cycling team see Astana Team; for the Iranian city, see Astaneh-e...  Member state  Associate member Headquarters Minsk, Belarus Working language Russian Type Commonwealth Membership 11 member states 1 associate member Leaders  -  Executive Secretary Viktor Yanukovych Establishment December 21, 1991 Website http://cis. ... Elections Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita, originally a decree of the Concilium Plebis) is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ... Rambouillet is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. ...

During the weeks and days before the talks in France, OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen expressed cautious optimism that some form of an agreement was possible. French President Jacques Chirac met with both leaders separately and expressed hope that the talks would be fruitful. Contrary to the initial optimism, the Rambouillet talks did not produce any agreement, with key issues such as the status of Nagorno-Karabakh and whether Armenian troops would withdraw from Kalbajar still being contentious. The next session of the talks was held in March 2006 in Washington, D.C. ^[3] Russian President, Vladimir Putin applied pressure to both parties to settle the disputes.^[4] Later in 2006 there was a meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in Minsk on 28 November and ministerial meetings in Moscow. "These talks did not initiate any progress, but I hope that time for solution will come." said Peter Semneby, EU envoy for the South Caucasuses.^[5] The OSCE Minsk Group was created in 1992 by the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE, now Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)) to encourage a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. ... “Chirac” redirects here. ... Kalbacar is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (Russian: ) (born October 7, 1952) is the current President of the Russian Federation. ...

In September of 2006, in his congratulatory message^[6] on the occasion of 15th anniversary of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Kocharian said "Karabakh people made their historical choice, protected their national interests in the forced war. Today, they build free and independent state." The accompanying message said that the duty of the Republic of Armenia and all the Armenians is to contribute to the strengthening and development of Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as to the international acknowledgment of the republic.^[7] Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijani: Dağlıq Qarabağ or Yuxarı Qarabağ, literally mountainous black garden or upper black garden; Russian: Нагорный Карабах, translit. ...

Anecdotes

Kocharian is thought to resemble the actor, Robert De Niro, by many Armenians. Robert Mario De Niro Jr. ...

Notes

External links

• Official Website
• Robert Kocharian
• BBC Analysis: Robert Kocharian - Armenia's new president?

v • d • e Leaders of Armenia since 1918

Democratic Republic of Armenia: Avetis Aharonian | Avetik Isahakyan | Avetis Aharonian Transcaucasian SFSR, Armenian SSR, First Secretaries: Sergey Lukashin | Ashot Hovhannisyan | Haik Ovsepyan | Aykaz Kostanyan | Agasi Khandzhan | Amatuni Vartapetyan | Grigory Arutyunov | Suren Tovmasyan | Yakov Zarobyan | Anton Kochinyan | Karen Demirchyan | Suren Arutyunyan | Vladimir Movsisyan | Stepan Pogosyan | Aram Sargsyan Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijani: Dağlıq Qarabağ or Yuxarı Qarabağ, literally mountainous black garden or upper black garden; Russian: Нагорный Карабах, translit. ... Anushavan Danielyan (born 1956) has been Prime Minister of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic since 30 June 1999. ... Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijani: Dağlıq Qarabağ or Yuxarı Qarabağ, literally mountainous black garden or upper black garden; Russian: Нагорный Карабах, translit. ... President of NKR, Arkady Ghoukasyan Arkady Arshavirovich Ghoukasyan (Armenian: Ô±Ö€Õ¯Õ¡Õ¤Õ« Õ‚Õ¸Ö‚Õ¯Õ¡Õ½ÕµÕ¡Õ¶) is the President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. ... Dr. Armen Sarkissian (born 1953) was the prime minister of Armenia from November 4, 1996 to March 20, 1997. ... The Prime Minister of Armenia is the most senior minister within the Armenian government, and is required by the constitution to oversee the Governments regular activities [and] coordinate the work of the Ministers. ... Armen Darbinyan (Armenian: ) was born in Gyumri, Armenia on January 23, 1965. ... Levon Ter-Petrossian (Armenian: Ô¼Ö‡Õ¸Õ¶ Տեր-ÕŠÕ¥Õ¿Ö€Õ¸Õ½ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Russian: Левон Тер-Петросян) (born January 9, 1945 in Aleppo, Syria in a family of a Syrian Communist) was the President of Armenia from 1991 to 1998. ... There have been two Presidents of Armenia since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. ... For the ecclesiastical office, see Incumbent (ecclesiastical). ... There have been two Presidents of Armenia since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. ... Motto None Anthem Mer Hayrenik (Our Fatherland) Map of the Democratic Republic of Armenia from March 1919 to March 1920. ... Avedis Aharonian Avetis Aharonian (Armenian: ) (1866 - March 20, 1948) was an Armenian politician, writer, public figure and revolutionary, also part of the Armenian national movement. ... Avetik Isahakian (Russian: Аветик Саакович Исаакян) (Armenian: Ô±Õ¾Õ¥Õ©Õ«Õ£ Ô»Õ½Õ¡Õ°Õ¡Õ£Õ«Õ¡Õ¶) (October 31 (October 19, O.S.), 1875 in Kazarapat, near Aleksandropol - October 17, 1957 in Yerevan) was an Armenian lyric poet, native of Gyumri. ... Avedis Aharonian Avetis Aharonian (Armenian: ) (1866 - March 20, 1948) was an Armenian politician, writer, public figure and revolutionary, also part of the Armenian national movement. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Transcaucasian_SFSR.svg‎ Flag of the Transcaucasian SFSR File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Soviet Union Republics of the Soviet Union Estonian SSR Byelorussian SSR Kazakh SSR Turkmen SSR Karelo-Finnish SSR... The Transcaucasian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic was a short-lived (1922-1936) Soviet republic, consisting of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, which were traditionally known as the Transcaucasian Republics in the Soviet Union. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Armenian_SSR.svg Flag of the Armenian SSR. Based on Image:Flag of Moldavian SSR.svg, attributed to Perconte. ... State motto: ÕŠÖ€Õ¸Õ¬Õ¥Õ¿Õ¡Ö€Õ¶Õ¥Ö€ Õ¢Õ¸Õ¬Õ¸Ö€ Õ¥Ö€Õ¯Ö€Õ¶Õ¥Ö€Õ«, միացեք! (Workers of the world, unite!) Official language None. ... ZAROBIAN, HAKOB (Yakov) (born in Artvin 1908–) the 1st Secretary of the Communist Party of Armenia from 1960 to 1966. ... Anton Kochinyan was the 1st Secretary of the Communist Party of Armenia from 1966 to 1975. ... Karen Serobovich Demirchyan (Yerevan Soviet Union 17 April 1932 - Yerevan Armenia 27 October 1999) was Armenian Communist Party first secretary from 1974 to 1988. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Republic of Armenia (1991-), Presidents: Levon Ter-Petrossian | Robert Kocharian

v • d • e Prime Ministers of Armenia

Democratic Republic of Armenia: Hovhannes Katchaznouni | Alexander Khatisyan | Hamo Ohanjanyan | Simon Vratsian Transcaucasian SFSR, Armenian SSR: Sergey Lukashin | Sarkis Ambartsumyan | Sahak Ter-Gabrielyan | Abram Guloyan | Sarkis Ambartsumyan | Stepan Akopyan | Aram Piruzyan | Agasi Sarkisyan | Saak Karapetyan | Shmavon Arusanyan | Saak Karapetyan | Anton Kochinyan | Badal Muradyan | Grigory Arzumanyan | Fadey Sarkisyan | Vladimir Markaryants | Vazgen Manukyan Levon Ter-Petrossian (Armenian: Ô¼Ö‡Õ¸Õ¶ Տեր-ÕŠÕ¥Õ¿Ö€Õ¸Õ½ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Russian: Левон Тер-Петросян) (born January 9, 1945 in Aleppo, Syria in a family of a Syrian Communist) was the President of Armenia from 1991 to 1998. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Armenia. ... The Prime Minister of Armenia is the most senior minister within the Armenian government, and is required by the constitution to oversee the Governments regular activities [and] coordinate the work of the Ministers. ... Motto None Anthem Mer Hayrenik (Our Fatherland) Map of the Democratic Republic of Armenia from March 1919 to March 1920. ... Hovhannes Katchaznouni (Armenian: ) (Akhaltsikhe, Georgia 1868 – Yerevan, Armenia 1938) was the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Armenia from May 30, 1918 to May 28, 1919. ... Alexander Khatisyan (Armenian: ; alternatively spelled as Alexsandr Khatisyan) was born in Tiflis, Georgia in 1874 and died in Paris, France in 1945. ... Hamo Ohanjanyan (Armenian: ) was an Armenian politician of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. ... Order: 4th Prime Minister of Armenia Term: 25 November 1920 - 2 December 1920 Predecessor: Hamo Ohanjanyan Successor: Soviet control Simon Vratsian (1882 - 1969) was an Armenian political figure. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Transcaucasian_SFSR.svg‎ Flag of the Transcaucasian SFSR File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Soviet Union Republics of the Soviet Union Estonian SSR Byelorussian SSR Kazakh SSR Turkmen SSR Karelo-Finnish SSR... The Transcaucasian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic was a short-lived (1922-1936) Soviet republic, consisting of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, which were traditionally known as the Transcaucasian Republics in the Soviet Union. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Armenian_SSR.svg Flag of the Armenian SSR. Based on Image:Flag of Moldavian SSR.svg, attributed to Perconte. ... State motto: ÕŠÖ€Õ¸Õ¬Õ¥Õ¿Õ¡Ö€Õ¶Õ¥Ö€ Õ¢Õ¸Õ¬Õ¸Ö€ Õ¥Ö€Õ¯Ö€Õ¶Õ¥Ö€Õ«, միացեք! (Workers of the world, unite!) Official language None. ... Anton Kochinyan was the 1st Secretary of the Communist Party of Armenia from 1966 to 1975. ... Vazgen Manukyan was born on February 13, 1946 in Gyumri, Armenia. ... Republic of Armenia: Vazgen Manukyan | Gagik Harutyunyan | Khosrov Harutyunyan | Hrant Bagratyan | Armen Sargsyan | Robert Kocharian | Armen Darbinyan | Vazgen Sargsyan | Aram Sargsyan | Andranik Margaryan | Serzh Sargsyan