Singer Aznavour appointed as Armenian ambassador

05/06/2009 8:00 AM, Reuters


Armenia appointed French singer Charles Aznavour, the child of Armenian parents, as the former Soviet republic's ambassador to Switzerland, the office of the president said on Wednesday.

Aznavour, 84, was born in France and established an international singing career that still takes him around the globe.

A statement issued by the office of President Serzh Sarksyan said Aznavour was appointed ambassador to Switzerland and Armenia's permanent representative at the Geneva office of the United Nations and other international organizations.

Aznavour was granted Armenian citizenship in December 2008.

In February this year, he confirmed he had agreed to join the Armenian diplomatic service, telling Armenian television:

"At first I hesitated, because I thought that this is no easy matter. But then I thought that in the end, what is important for Armenia must be important for us all." (Reporting by Hasmik Mkrtchyan, writing by Matt Robinson)