YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–By a decree dated August 9–President Robert Kocharian appointed deputy speaker of the National Assembly Albert Bazeyan Mayor of Yerevan. The presidential decree was made public on the evening of August 10.
"I intend to get down to solving Yerevan’s problems as soon as I familiarize myself with the activities of the Mayor’s Office and its problems," the newly appointed mayor of Yerevan said Wednesday at a meeting with the heads of the departmen’s of the Mayor’s Office. The new mayor emphasized the important role of the heads of the departmen’s of the Mayor’s Office in solving the problems of Yerevan. He stressed the need for developing the legislation on territorial policy and status of Yerevan and stated that he does not intends to make personnel changes in the Mayor’s Office. Such changes are–according to Bazeyan–possible if any conflicts arise in the process of work.
According to Minister of the Interior Souren Abrahamian and Minister of the Territorial Governance Khosrov Haroutiunian–the appointment of "the political figure known by the entire nation" Albert Bazeyan as mayor of Yerevan is no coincidence. He is well-informed about the problems of the capital and of the entire country and can solve these problems in cooperation with all the relevant structures–they said.
Under the Constitution the mayors of Yerevan are appointed and not elected. The seat of Yerevan’s mayor has been vacant since June–when Suren Abrahamian–the then mayor–was appointed the Interior Minister.
Albert Bazeyan was born on May 28–1956–in the village of Lanjaghbiur–Armenia’s Kamo region. In 1972 he graduated from Yerevan’s secondary school No. 120–and in 1976 from the Armenian State Institute of Physical Training–acquiring the qualification of teacher and coach.
In 1976-78 Bazeyan served in the Soviet Army.
In 1988-1993–Bazeyan was a researcher at the Armenian State Institute of Physical Training. Simultaneously with his work–in 1989 he participated in the defense of Artsakh and was awarded the "Combat Cross" Order of 2nd degree.
In 1993 Albert Bazeyan was elected Vice-Chairman of the Board of the "Yerkrapah" Union of Volunteers. In 1993-1994 he worked as department chief at the Ministry of Defense of Armenia. In 1995 he was elected and two years later re-elected Vice-Chairman of the "Yerkrapah" Union of Volunteers. In 1996 he was elected to the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia. From October 1997 he became head of the "Yerkrapah" deputy group at the National Assembly. In February 1998 he was elected deputy speaker of the National Assembly. In June 1999 he was elected deputy speaker of the National Assembly.
Albert Bazeyan is married and has three children.