YEREVAN. President Armen Sarkissian has signed a decree on granting the diplomatic rank of “ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary” to Armen Baibourtian, Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles.

Sarkissian has signed this decree based on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s respective proposal under the constitution, and on the Law on Diplomatic Service.

Until 2008, Baibourtian served as Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chief Negotiator with the European Union.

Due to some domestic political processes, however, he then was relieved of his duties and left without his diplomatic rank.