Armenian parliament speaker becomes acting president

YEREVAN. Feb 1 (Interfax) - Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan will perform the duties of the country's president in accordance with the constitution and the law on the parliament's rules of procedure until a new president is elected and is sworn into office, the presidential press service said.

Deputy Speaker Akop Arshakyan has been appointed the acting parliament speaker.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Armenian parliament accepted the resignation of Armen Sarkissian as the country's president in accordance with his letter of resignation submitted on January 23.

Sarkissian announced his resignation on January 23. In his words, "the president does not have the relevant instruments to influence the fundamental processes unfolding in the domestic and foreign policy in this difficult period for the country and the people."

The Armenian ruling party Civil Contract is planning to nominate High-Tech Industry Minister Vahagn Khachaturyan for president.