Author: Chakrian Hovsep

MMA: MOUSASI MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF IN JAPANESE MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
Anthony Malakian, PA SportsTicker

Vancouver Sun
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Canada

Going into the DREAM middleweight tournament, most American fight
fans had probably never heard of Gegard Mousasi, an Armenian-born
mixed martial artist who now calls Holland home.

The 23-year-old had made a name for himself as a striking coach for
the great Fedor Emelianenko, but prior to fighting for the Japan-based
DREAM organization, his most notable win was when he stopped journeyman
Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos back in February.

Fighting at the famed Saitama Super Arena in Japan early Tuesday
morning, Mousasi firmly established himself as one of the elite
middleweights in the world by dominating both Melvin Manhoef and
Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza to win the DREAM middleweight tournament.

You don’t get to be a striking coach for Emelianenko without being a
top-tier muay thai practitioner, but Mousasi showed off his ground
game against Manhoef in the first semifinal bout of the tournament
that began at DREAM 2 back in April.

Manhoef, who is also a Dutchman, is a fearsome striker and has a
similar fighting style and temperament as Quinton Jackson. Not wanting
to stand with the 32 year old, Mousasi shot in and worked his way to
secure the takedown.

Manhoef (22-5-1) was able to spin around for a reversal, but spun
right into a triangle-choke submission. Manhoef did his best "Rampage"

Jackson impression, picked Mousasi up and tried to slam him to the
ground to break the hold.

All it did, though, was make the submission tighter and Manhoef tapped
out a minute-and-a-half into the first round.

In the finals Mousasi (24-2-1) faced Souza, whom many believed to
be the favorite to win the tournament from the very beginning. Souza
submitted Croatia’s Zelg Galesic in their semifinal-round bout with
an armbar a minute-and-a-half into the first round.

"In this tournament, I have become friends with Zelg and Jacare,"
Mousasi said. "They helped me. I’m happy that I won, but I consider
them as my friends, so it was hard for me to [fight] Jacare."

Like so many of his countrymen, Souza, a Brazilian, is a whiz on the
ground. So when Souza took Mousasi to the mat with a pretty double-leg
takedown to start the fight, it seemed as though the Dutch-Armenian’s
dream run to the belt was in severe danger.

>From his back, Mousasi pushed the Brazilian away. As Souza jumped back
in with a right hand, Mousasi ended the fight with a perfectly timed
upkick to Souza’s jaw. Souza (10-2) went limp and the referee stopped
the fight two minutes and fifteen seconds into the opening round.

In addition to his wins over Manhoef and Souza, Mousasi also upset
Denis Kang, a highly regarded fighter from Canada, with a triangle
choke in the first round of the tournament at DREAM 2.

Fourteen of his wins have come by knockout or stoppage and he has
eight submission victories to his ledger.

Mousasi has now won 11 fights in a row and is a front-runner for
fighter of the year with a record of 6-0 in 2008. His last loss came
in 2006 when Akihiro Gono submitted him in the second round with
an armbar.

In other notable bouts, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, who was once
considered one of the best heavyweights in the world, was getting
beat by Alistair Overeem in their heavyweight fight.

Overeem, though, kept landing numerous knees to Filipovic’s groin. The
final knee forced the Croatian to his back where he laid for several
minutes before it was deemed that he could not continue. The bout
was declared a no-contest.

Top-lightweight contender Shinya Aoki submitted an over-matched Todd
Moore in the first round with a neck crank. Hayato Sakurai won a
close decision over Kuniyoshi Hironaka.

In a bout between two fan favorites, Masakatsu Funaki submitted
Ikuhisa Minowa with a heal hook a minute into the first round and
Sergei Kharitonov stopped Jimmy Ambriz in the first round.

Ambriz tapped out due to the onslaught of strikes.

NEW BELARUS AMBASSADOR ARRIVES IN ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
Sep 22, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS: Newly appointed Belarus ambassador
to Armenia Stepan Sukharenko handed over today the copy of his
credentials to the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

Foreign Ministry press service told Armenpress that greeting the guest,
the foreign minister congratulated the ambassador on his appointment
and wished success in his diplomatic mission.

Edward Nalbandian noted that warm and friendly relations have been
established between Armenia and Belarus.

During the meeting the sides also referred to the continuative
development of bilateral relations.

Panorama.am

18:35 20/09/2008

HIS HOLINESS VAZGEN I IS 100 YEARS OLD

To commemorate 100 anniversary of His Holiness Vazgen I, a liturgy
ceremony has been organized in St Etchmiatsin by the Supreme Patriarch
of All Armenian Garegin II. The Supreme Patriarch has mentioned that
His Holiness has utterly served to Gov, his people and the Church.

Eznik Srbazan, who led the liturgy, said that the memory of His
Holiness is pure as he is not only in the hearts of his nation but
Armenian is fair to the direction and traditions he has established.

Source: Panorama.am

RA FOREIGN MINISTER’S VISIT TO IRAN STARTS

Noyan Tapan

Se p 17, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. President of Iran Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad received RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian who arrived
in Tehran on an official visit on September 16. During the meeting,
E. Nalbandian and M. Ahmadinejad exchanged thoughts about establishment
of cooperation and stability in the region, discussed the latest
developments in the region. In that context E. Nalbandian expressed
gratitude for assistance to transportation of goods of vital importance
to Armenia through the territory of Iran in the days of the crisis.

Both sides expressed satisfaction that efficient economic cooperation,
a large legal-contractual field have been formed between Armenia
and Iran, many mutually beneficial programs of economic cooperation
are fulfilled.

Readiness to further develop cooperation was expressed.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA Foreign
Ministry Press and Information Department, before that E. Nalbandian
met with IRI Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

Issues on the agenda of bilateral relations, jointly implemented and
envisaged programs of economic and cultural cooperation, especially in
the sphere of energy and transport, were discussed at the meeting. The
interlocutors reaffirmed readiness to develop bilateral relations
based on mutual interest. Both sides also mentioned that there is
great potential in the sphere of economic cooperation.

The Armenian and Iranian Foreign Ministers also discussed the latest
developments in the region and their impact on regional stability
and security. E. Nalbandian said that Armenia has always been for
establishment and strengthening of peace and stability in the region
and considers that any disputable issue should be solved exclusively
by peace, through negotiations and dialogue.

At M. Mottaki’s request the RA Foreign Minister presented the latest
developments and prospects of Nagorno Karabakh problem settlement
negotiations. According to E. Nalbandian, in case of manifestation
of proper political will we can achieve the problem settlement, the
basis of which should be the recognition and fulfillment of right
of Nagorno Karabakh people’s self-determination. He also presented
Armenia’s views on possibilities of normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations to his Iranian counterpart.

Touching upon bilateral cultural relations, E. Nalbandian highly
evaluated careful attitude to Armenian historic-cultural monuments
by the Iranian authorities referring to inclusion of two prominent
Armenian monuments, Saint Stepanos and Saint Tadevos Apostle churches
in the list of UNESCO world heritage as evidence of Iran’s careful
attitude to monuments.

During the meeting with Chairman of Iranian Majlis Ali Larijani,
E. Nalbandian attached importance to efficient cooperation of the RA
and IRI legislative bodies in the issue of strengthening bilateral
relations. He expressed satisfaction with attitude to the Armenian
community of Iran, one of manifestations of which is presence of two
deputies from the Armenian community in the IRI Majlis.

E. Nalbandian also met with Sayid Jalili, the Secretary of the IRI
National Security Higher Council. During the meeting, the interlocutors
touched upon the latest regional events and exchanged thoughts about
problems regarding provision of security in the region. They also
discussed the possibilities of cooperation of the two countries’
Security Councils.

During his stay in Tehran E. Nalbandian also visited the RA Embassy.

In the evening of September 16 Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr
Mottaki organized a supper in honor of Edward Nalbandian.

NKR PRESIDENT: EVERYTHING SHOULD BE DONE TO RESTORE NKR’S STATUS AS COMPETENT PARTY OF TALKS

DeFacto Agency
Sept 17 2008
Armenia

STEPANAKERT, 17.09.08. DE FACTO. On September 16 the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic President Bako Sahakian received OSCE Minsk group French
Co-Chair Bernard Fassier.

According to the Central Department of Information under the NKR
President, a wide spectrum of issues referring to Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict settlement and situation created in the region was discussed
at the meeting.

Bako Sahakian mentioned Europe’s important role in the case of
establishing peace and stability in the region. The President again
underscored the necessity to maintain OSCE Minsk group format adding
everything should be done to restore NKR’s status as a competent
party of the talks.

NKR FM Georgy Petrossian partook at the meeting.

ARMENIA, DENMARK SIGN AN AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION

armradio.am
15.09.2008 17:56

On September 15 RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received the
Ambassador of Denmark to Armenia Uffe Andersson Balslev (seat in Kiev).

The agenda of the meeting included issues connected with activation of
the Armenian-Danish bilateral cooperation in the political, economic
and humanitarian spheres.

Highly appreciating the friendly relations between Armenia and
Denmark, Minister Nalbandian emphasized the importance of the
reciprocal high-level visits and the organization of periodic
consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries
from the perspective of further reinforcement of bilateral relations.

Turning to bilateral economic relations, Minister Nalbandian and
Ambassador Balslev noted that the Armenian-Danish trade-economic
cooperation also includes a great potential and needs to get more
active.

Minister Nalbandian expressed hope that the signing of the development
cooperation agreement between the Governments of Armenia and Denmark
will contribute to the development of bilateral economic cooperation.

At the request of the guest Minister Nalbandian presented the current
state and perspectives of the negotiations on the Karabakh conflict
settlement, as well as Armenia’s stance on the recent developments
in the region.

The meeting was followed by the signing of the development cooperation
agreement between the Governments of Armenia and Denmark, which will
systemize the financial, material and technical assistance to be
provided to Armenia by Denmark, as well as the support in retraining
specialists.

ARKA News Agency Explaining Report of Finance Ministry’s Press Office

YEREVAN, September 13. /ARKA/. Armenian Finance Ministry issued a
report on Saturday on the country’s preliminary draft budget for 2009.

According to the ministry’s press release, expenses were to be AMD
954.8 billion instead of AMD 701 billion in ARKA News Agency’s report
`Armenian Government Approves Preliminary Draft Budget for 2009′.

ARKA News Agency took these figures from Armenian Government’s official
website.

According to the site, current revenue is AMD 908 billion and current
expenses over AMD 761 billion.

The only fault of the agency is the missing word `current’, since
current, not total expenses and revenue were meant.

Besides, the ministry says that the2008 budget is calculated on foreign
exchange rate $1=AMD 325.16, while in the mentioned publication 302.66
was instead of it.

Our subscribers know that the agency presents daily foreign exchange
rate at the end of each news report, which has nothing in common with
the average market foreign exchange rate put in the budget. `0-

ARMENIA WILL DELIVER ELECTRICAL ENERGY FOR TURKEY

Panorama.am
19:27 10/09/2008

Today Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Republic of Armenia
Armen Movsisyan informed journalists that Armenia will begin to
deliver electrical energy for Turkey.

According to his words, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources
and "High-voltage network" company had signed a contract with
UNIT Turkish private company which imports high-tensed electrical
energy to Turkey. Electrical energy will be exported from Armenia to
Turkey through Kars. Minister thinks that there would hardly rise
any political obstacle as the agreemens had been achieved on the
highest level.

NATO SHIPS LEAVING BLACK SEA

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.09.2008 19:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG 1)
successfully completed its planned visit and is leaving the Black Sea
today in accordance with the Montreux Convention which limits Black Sea
naval deployments to twenty-one days for non-Black Sea navies. SNMG
1 will operate in the Mediterranean following its departure from the
Black Sea, NATO press office told PanARMENIAN.Net

As part of its annual program, SNMG 1 was deployed to the Black Sea on
21 August 2008 with the aim of promoting interoperability among NATO
nations. Under command of Spanish Rear Admiral Juan Rodriguez Garat
it conducted routine port visits and naval exercises with Bulgaria
and Romania, both members of the NATO Alliance.

SNMG 1 is comprised of the Spanish frigate, Adm Juan de Borbon,
the German frigate, FGS Lubeck, the US frigate, USS Taylor and the
Polish frigate, ORP General K Pulaski.

Vice-Admiral Pim Bedet, Deputy Commander Allied Maritime Component
Command Headquarters Northwood stated, "SNMG 1 was able to participate
in a very successful visit to Romania and Bulgaria. In turn, this has
contributed towards developing NATO’s maritime interoperability with
its member nations within the Black Sea and the exercises conducted
there have reinforced NATO’s maritime capability in this strategically
important area of focus."

RUBEN SAFRASTIAN CONSIDERS THAT ARMENIAN DIPLOMACY SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE CURRENT INTEREST OF TURKEY IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Se p 9, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The visit of Turkish President
Abdullah Gul to Yerevan and his invitation to Armenian President
to be present at the return football match between national teams
of Armenia and Turkey is evidence of Turkey’s positive position in
the issue of holding a dialogue on normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations. Ruben Safrastian, the Director of the Institute of Oriental
Studies of the National Academy of Sciences, stated at a September
10 press conference.

According to him, for the first time over the past years the Armenian
diplomacy had a possibility to normalize its relations with Turkey, for
which so far it has been beneficial to keep the status quo in relations
with Armenia and which today has itself become active in normalization
of these relations. The scientist affirmed that the Armenian diplomacy
should be able to use the current interest of Turkey.

Evaluating Gul’s visit to Yerevan on the whole positive, R. Safrastian
meanwhile said that only as a result of long negotiations between
Armenia and Turkey it will be possible to solve the issue of opening
the border.

He did not agree to the opinion that Gul’s visit to Yerevan and his
meeting with Serzh Sargsyan is Armenia’s diplomatic victory: "It is
only one step taken in the right direction, which will be useful for
both Armenia and Turkey."