China News Agency, Moscow, January 23. Yerevan news: Armenian President Sarkisian issued a statement on the official website of the head of state on the 23rd, announcing his resignation.
"I have thought about it for a long time, and after about four years of active work, have decided to resign as President of the Republic," Sarkisian said in the statement. "This is definitely not an emotional decision, it follows a certain logic. The President of our country. There are no tools necessary to influence the domestic and foreign policy issues that matter most to the nation and the nation."
"During such a difficult time for our country, when national unity is needed, the presidential system should not be the subject of gossip and conspiracy theories to distract the public from the most important issues," the statement said.
The statement noted that in Armenia there has been "a paradoxical situation where the president has to be the guarantor of statehood without actually having any real tools".
The head of state cannot influence "issues of war or peace" and cannot veto laws he deems impractical.
The statement said the "ability of the president" was not seen as an "advantage" but as a "threat" from different political forces.
According to Russian media reports, Armenia has turned to a parliamentary system after the constitutional reform of Armenia in 2015.
The president is the head of state and is elected by the parliament for a seven-year term.
On March 2, 2018, Sarki was elected President of Armenia and was sworn in on April 9 of the same year.
Sarkisian was Armenia's ambassador to the UK from 1991 to 1995, Prime Minister of Armenia from 4 November 1996 to 20 March 1997, and was nominated as a presidential candidate in January 2018.
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