Armenia's new President Armen Sarkisian was sworn in today but power is expected to remain with his predecessor, who will likely become premier as the ex-Soviet republic shifts to a parliamentary form of government.
The former ambassador to the United Kingdom took the oath of office as president at an extraordinary parliamentary session, placing his right hand on a 7th-century manuscript of the New Testament, and the Armenian Constitution.
The 64-year-old then received blessings from the head of the Armenian Church, Catholicos Garegin II.
"We must consistently fight against corruption and social injustice," he told lawmakers. "We will succeed if we rally round this goal and work together -- instead of drawing dividing lines."
Ruling Republican Party spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov told AFP today that "the party simply doesn't have a more experienced or wiser leader to nominate for the prime-ministerial post than Serzh Sarkisian."