President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree Tuesday, January 12 appointing diplomat Grigor Hovhannisyan Armenia’s ambassador to the United States.

Hovhannisyan will replace Tigran Sargsyan, who assumed his responsibilities as the head the Eurasian Economic Commission on January 1.

Prior to his appointment as Armenia’s ambassador to the U.S., Hovhannisyan served as the country’s ambassador to Mexico, Cuba, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama, as well as Armenia’s Consul General to Los Angeles.