WEIGHT-LIFTER TIGRAN MARTIROSIAN WINS GOLDEN MEDAL IN EUROPE
CHAMPIONSHIP
PALERMO, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Tigran Martirosian (69 kg, Gyumri)
performed successfully on September 6 in the Europe Championship of
weight-lifting being held in the city of Palermo, Italy. He, fixing
150 kg and 173 kg correspondingly for pull and push, got 323 kg in
the biathlon and won the first place. Tehmine Karapetian (53 kg,
Gyumri) won the bronze medal as a result of the biathlon. And David
Muradian (62 kg, Ararat) and Aram Andrikian (77 kg, Sevan) completed
the top fives.

RA PRESIDENT EXPRESSES SATISFACTION ON OCCASION OF ACTIVIZATION OF
COOPERATION WITH EOC
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Receiving On September 7 The Delegation
Headed By European Olympic Committee (EOC) Chairman Patrick Hickey, RA
President Robert Kocharian Considered Gratifying Activization Of The Cooperation
with this sporting structure. He mentioned that joint programs will be an
additional stimulus in the affair making sports mass in Armenia and reaching good
results in international tournaments. P.Hickey mentioned in his turn that in a
number of kinds of sports like weight-lifting, multiathlon, etc., Armenia is
traditionally considered strong, and that during the recent years, a
considerable improvement has been noticed in the process of pushing forward the
Armenian sport. He also stated that he was impressed with the RA President’s
readiness to pay great attention to sports.

RA HEALTH CARE MINISTER TO PARTICIPATE IN 56TH SESSION OF EUROPEAN
REGIONAL COMMITTEE OF WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Health Care Minister Norayr
Davidian will participate in the 56th session of the European
regional committee of the World Health Oragnization (WHO) to take
place in Copenhagen on September 11-14. Narine Beglarian, the general
specialist of the Ministry’s International Ties Department informed the
Noyan Tapan correspondent about it. It was mentioned that the present
health care problems will, particularly, be discussed at the session,
as well as elections of the WGO executive and permanent committees
will be held.

16 CHESS PLAYERS OF ARMENIA TO PARTICIPATE IN EUROPEAN YOUTH
CHAMPIONSHIP
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Youth chess team of Armenia will
leave for Chernogoria on September 9. Participants of the European
Youth Chess Championship to take place in the city of Herzeg Novi on
September 9-21 will compete in 5 age groups (10, 12, 14, 16, 18 years
old). 16 chess players (11 boys and 5 girls) are involved in the team
of Armenia. Last year Europe champions Zaven Andreasian (16), Robert
Aghasarian (10), bronze medal winner Hayk Tamazian (12) are among them.

MELINE DALUZIAN WINS 3 GOLD MEDALS AT EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP OF
WEIGHTLIFTING
PALERMO, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The European Youth Weightlifting
Championship continues in the city of Palermo, Italy. On September 7,
Meline Daluzian (63 kg, Gyumri) showed 101 kg for the pull, 121 kg
for the push, had result of 222 kg in biathlon and became the Europe
champion, winning 3 gold medals.
Sevak Sahakian (94 kg, Kasakh) performs on September 8.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES RICHARD HOAGLAND AS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. After a lengthy
confirmation process which challenged the Bush Administration’s policy
on the Armenian Genocide, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
today approved the nomination of Ambassador-designate Richard
E. Hoagland as America’s next Ambassador to Armenia. The panel vote,
13-5, clears a major hurdle for Hoagland, who has been repeatedly
questioned by Republican and Democratic lawmakers over U.S. policy
on the Armenian Genocide following his nomination by President Bush
to replace Ambassador John M. Evans. As Noyan Tapan was informed
by the Armenian Assembly of America, Senators Paul Sarbanes (D-MD),
Norm Coleman (R-MN), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), John Kerry (D-MA) and
Barbara Boxer (D-CA) voted against the nominee. Ambassador Evans
was rebuked by the State Department after publicly affirming that
“the Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the twentieth
century.” He tendered his resignation after serving only two years
of what is typically a three-year assignment. “My vote is no,” Kerry
told Committee Members. “It is not against the nominee personally,
but against the Administration.” Kerry said that the U.S. must honor
history and honor the truth, pointing to America’s own record as
documented by U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire Henry Morgenthau
who warned during the time of the killings that a “campaign of race
extermination” was in progress. During the Committee deliberation,
Boxer referenced a statement by then-Governor George W. Bush,
which said that Armenians were subjected to a genocidal campaign
that defies comprehension. The February 2000 letter said that,
“if elected President, I would ensure that our nation properly
recognizes the tragic suffering of the Armenian people.” Boxer told
Committee Members that the President did not fulfill his pledge, but
Evans did acknowledge the truth and was recalled from his post as a
consequence. The next step in the confirmation process is consideration
by the full Senate.

THIS YEAR YBC’S GRAPE PURCHASE EXCEED 2005 INDEX BY 5 THOUSAND TONS
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The purchase season will start at
the Armavir branch of the Yerevan Brandy Company (YBC) on September
11. The plant’s director Philippe Tibaut stated at the September 8
press conference that starting September 15, grapes will be purchased
at the Aygavan branch, and starting September 21- at the comany’s
Berd branch. According to him, grapes will be purchased for 130 drams
(about 0.32 USD) a kilogram at the Armavir and Aygavab branches,
and for4 123 drams – in Berd. Those farms, which have cooperated
with the YBC based on long-term agreements and will sell by 50% more
grapes than last year, will get an extra payment of 15 drams per a
kiologram in Armavir and Aygavan, and extra 12 drams per a kiologram
in Berd. It was noted that this year the company invested 1 million
euros in its branches, thanks to which the capacities of raw material
containers were increased by 3.3 thousand hecaliters and new equipment
was installed in the Aygavan and Armavir branches. These investments
will allow the YBC to purchase about 30 thousand tons of grapes from
5.5 thousand farms this year against 25 thousand tons in 2005.
The plant, which was bought by the company Pernod Ricard in 1998,
purchased 15 thousand tons of grapes from 3.5 thousand farms for 80
drams a kilo in 2002, and 15 thousand tons from over 4,000 farms in
2005. During the press conference, the subject of the allegations
made by Aram Sargsian, leader of the Democratic Party of Armenia,
concerning the YBC management was addressed as well. Zara Nazarian,
head of the comapny’s PR and Marketing Unit, noted that A.
Sargsina’s accusations that over 6-7 years, the plant has not operated
at the required capacity are not true. It was noted that this year it
is envisaged to produce the same amount of brandy as last year – 3.5
mln decaliters, 2.5 decaliters of which will be sold in Russia. In the
words of Z. Nazarian, Rospotrebnadzor (Moscow’s Consumer Market Control
Department) has lifted the ban imposed on the operation of the comapny
Pernod Ricard Rus – the distributor of the YBC’s production in Russia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SHAVARSH KOCHARYAN SAYS LEAVING JUSTICE BLOCK IMMORAL
Panorama.am
15:05 08/09/06
Shavarsh Kocharyan, the head of the National Democrats Party who is
also a member of parliament, told reporters today his party “will go
to elections on a separate list.” He did not rule out any cooperation
with other parties, though.
Kocharyan thinks that the society has never been so disappointed and
the opposition so discredit as today in the course of 15 years of
independence. He said the opposition is guilty of concentrating on
the urge of power-change while underscoring its own programs and aims.
Asked if he will follow the example of Viktor Dallakyan and Tatul
Manaseryan and leave Justice Block, the deputy answered, “I do not
take immoral steps.” /Panorama.am/

SHAVARSH KOCHARYAN BELIEVES HE HAS BEST DRAFT ON ELECTION CODE
Panorama.am
15:36 08/09/06
The leader of National Democrats, Shavarsh Kocharyan, claims he
has proposed the best Election Code. He was very amazed when the
opposition supported the coalition draft and was even more amazed
when the opposition stepped back.
Kocharyan believes the authorities will do everything to reproduce
themselves during the upcoming elections.
He hopes that the people, opposition and the international institutions
may overcome that barrier.
The leader of National Democrats has developed a complex program of
election observation costing $4 million. Kocharyan’s fellow Arshak
Sadoyan has also proposed a program that may require $2.5 million
investment. Kocharyan thinks that Sadoyan’s plan is unrealistic since
he believes electronic voting may also be discredited in a country
that has never over passed the threshold of free elections.
In Kocharyan’s words, today criminal elements are taking the lead
being tired of serving the authorities and willing to rule on their
own. Panorama.am/

WHO IS FIGHTING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
Lragir.am
08 Sept 06
During their recent scandalous meeting the Council of the Republican
Party decided last week not to interfere with the local election
in Ajapniak. And on September 6 Bargavach Hayastan made a similar
decision. Logically, Ajapniak remains up to the Attorney General.
A question occurs: all this is done for the Attorney General, or the
Attorney General becomes the guard of the community, which has become
an apple of discord. Perhaps both. After the election in the village
of Nalbandyan, Armavir region the Republicans would hardly wish to
taste defeat again. Besides, the Republicans would hardly miss the
chance of conciliating Serge Sargsyan and Aghvan Hovsepyan through the
situation in Ajapniak. For the sake of this they could sacrifice the
reputation of Galust Sahakyan and the strength of the Republican Party.
The question occurs why the factor of the Attorney General is so
important for Serge Sargsyan. Serge Sargsyan relies on the Republican
Party, and the compulsory “Republicanization” may be viewed as the
guarantee of the success of Serge Sargsyan on his way to the post
of president. It seems that having considerable administrative and
financial resources this “political monster” is able to solve even
the most complicated problem. Logically, the policy of enhancing the
unity and increasing the number of members of the political party
should not have an alternative. But in fact the contrary is happening.
The leaders of the political party do not hide this. It means that in
the Republican Party a lot of things are sacrificed in the Republican
Party. First they do not hide the meaning of the strategic alliance
with the Office of the Attorney General. It means that despite the
bombastic statements about the large number of governors, mayors,
heads of village communities, the Republican leaders know their real
potential. They realize that this category of “chiefs”, in fact, has
a political lever only if it works in accord with the law enforcement
agencies. Not a local government leader can be the boss in their
“zone” if it does not appeal to the police and the procuracy. It is
not accidental that after the defeat in the village of Nalbandyan
Galust Sahakyan sighed that those who have the support of the law
enforcement agencies win.
In that case, how will the Republicans win, however? It is clear that
the expansion of the pro-president political party Bargavach Hayastan,
as well as the indistinct attitude of Robert Kocharyan towards the
plans of Serge Sargsyan the hope for the victory is almost null. It
is null because the Republican Party does not control the electoral
committees and the law enforcement agencies. The police and the
procuracy stand aloof from Serge Sargsyan’s plans. And without this
control there cannot be other guarantees of implementation of Serge
Sargsyan’s plans.
The Republicans are starting to understand that they made a bad
mistake – they overestimated the role and importance of the minister
of defense, they got cheated by the stereotype of 1998. They thought
that Serge is Vazgen Manukyan. No, there is nowhere to retreat. And
it is already visible that Serge Sargsyan and Andranik Margaryan have
adopted a policy of making Robert Kocharyan accept their plans. This
is absolutely obvious.
It is obvious, however, that they had thought a wrong thing from the
beginning. They chose the Attorney General as a target. The procuracy,
as a main lever of compulsion, is viewed as a mechanism of influence
both on their own team and President Kocharyan. The choice, as it
appears to be, is a ruse. It is supposed that in case of success
Serge Sargsyan may enhance his position. However, they carefully
hide from the members of their party that their thought is a threat
of complete failure.
As to Aghvan Hovsepyan, we should confess that he is in a complicated
position. For him, it is difficult and dangerous to oppose Serge
Sargsyan; he does not know how the struggle for power in Armenia
will end. However, an alliance is practically impossible. There is
a danger to remain without office, and Aghvan Hovsepyan’s office
is his only political resource. This circumstance is clear to both
the Attorney General and Serge Sargsyan. It means they have to wait
for complicated combinations. And it is already apparent that the
combinations will end badly for our masters of “political cards”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress