The new rector of the Yerevan State University of Armenia Aram Simonyan has already appointed new people. Former president of the university graduates’ union Arsen Karamyan has been appointed as the pro-rector of the student, graduate and public relations department. Karamyan was born in 1974 and graduated from the history department of the Yerevan State University. He currently studies at the economy faculty.
“I still don’t have an academic rank,” said Karamyan to one of our reporters.
So, it turns out that you don’t need to have an academic rank to be appointed vice-rector at the university. Alexander Grigoryan was a candidate of physics/mathematical sciences, while former dean of the Physics faculty Samvel Harutyunyan is a doctor/professor of physical sciences. It is worth mentioning that the staff of the student, graduates and public relations department is new, probably for Arsen Karamyan who, according to our sources, is one of the “dear” friends of university board president Serge Sargsyan.
“The suggestion to create a staff for this department was made back when Radik Martirosyan was rector. Not only did Aram Simonyan approve of this during the pre-election campaign, but also the other rector candidates” said A. Karamyan.
Karamyan was one of the activists for the “Justice” party during the 2003 parliamentary elections and stood up for Robert Kocharyan. However, during the interview with our correspondent, Karamyan denied the fact that he has been part of a political party.
“I have been part of the Young Communists’ party at the time, a Pioneer, but I have never been a member of a political party. I have sworn not to be,” said the new pro-rector of the student, graduates and public relations department of the Yerevan State University Arsen Karamyan.