Heritage Party Leader, Former Foreign Minister (1991-1992)



Born in Fresno, California, Hovannisian is a Diaspora Armenian who returned to his roots. He is the son of Richard Hovannisian, a prominent specialist in Armenian history at the University of California, Los Angeles. Hovannisian, an attorney with a background in international law, first came to Armenia in 1990 to run an earthquake relief program for the Armenian Assembly of America. In 1991, he was named the first foreign minister of post-communist Armenia. Although Hovannisian remained in office for just a year, his popularity with voters remains rooted in this era.

In 1993, Hovannisian, founded the Armenian Center for National and International Studies in Yerevan, and later briefly held two government offices under President Kocharian in 1998.

In 2002, he founded the Heritage Party, a strongly pro-Western opposition party which, as its name indicates, advocates the importance of Armenian culture and history. In 2006, the party was part of a high-profile property dispute with the government. A 2003 bid by Hovannisian for president failed when a court rejected his claim to have held Armenian citizenship since 1992.



Pro-Government:
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian
Gagik Tsarukian
Vahan Hovhannisian

Opposition:
Artur Baghdasarian
Stepan Demirchian
Artashes Geghamian
Aram Sarkisian


Opposition Party Still Under Lock and Key
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav072806b.shtml

Armenian Opposition Divided Ahead of Election
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav030807b.shtml

Armenia's Opposition: In Search of a Revolution (2005)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav041905.shtml