NKR PRESIDENT DISCUSSED ISSUES OF RESTORATION OF BIGGEST HOTEL IN
SHUSHI WITH AMERICAN BUSINESSMEN
Stepanakert, August 3. ArmInfo. The issues of restoration of the
biggest 9-story hotel in Shushi were discussed during the meeting
of NKR President Arkadiy Ghukassyan with the American businessmen
and patrons, the co-owners of the former Shushi central hotel, the
family of Palayants and Akop Pokhikyan.
As ArmInfo was told in NKR President’s press-office, during the
meeting, the businessmen told the NKR President about the course of
repair-renewal operations and plans. It is scheduled to put the hotel
in commission by the beginning of May, 2007. The President noted
the importance of retaining a unified architectural image of the
city of Shushi during restoration and construction works. He highly
appreciated the contribution of Serzh Palayants and Akop Pokhikyan in
the implementation of charitable and investment programs in Nagorno
Karabakh.

ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO TAKE PART IN AN EXHIBITION OF ARMS IN MOSCOW
Yerevan, August 3. ArmInfo. The delegation of the Republic of
Armenia will take part in the international “MVSV-2006” military
equipment exhibition, started yesterday in Moscow. The exhibition
is dedicated to the 15-th anniversary of the formation of the CIS –
Commonwealth of Independent States, and is sponsored by the Defense
Ministry of Russia. The Defense Ministry informed ArmInfo that the
Armenian delegation will be lead by Deputy-Minister for Defense Yuri
Khachaturov. The main exposition is placed on the whole are of the
Pan-Russian Exhibition Center, and the other part of the program will
be represented on a polygon in the suburbs of Moscow. It is expected
that over 400 exponents from over 10 states of the world will take
part in the exhibition
Representatives of Belarus, Great Britain, France, Poland, UAE,
Israel, Ukraine, Japan will be present to the event. Also delegations
from Indonesia, China, India, Malaysia, Jordan, Venezuela, Myanma,
Uganda, Egypt, Ethiopia, Algeria, Libya, Angola, Kongo, Finland,
Yemen, Greece, Iran, Bulgaria and other states.

CASES OF DEATH CONNECTED WITH SERVICE REDUCE BY 51.3% AT RA ARMED FORCES
DURING FIRST HALF YEAR
YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, NOYAN TAPAN. 19 cases of death connected with
service were fixed at the RA Armed Forces during the first half year
of 2006 instead of 39 ones of the first half year of 2005 (reduction
made 51.3%). During the same period of time, 574 servicemen got bodily
injury of different levels of seriousness in return for 477 cases of
the same period of the previous year. Cases of general bodily injuries
increased by 97, and cases of serious bodily injury reduced by 11.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SLOVAK WRESTLER PREPARES FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP HEADED BY ARMENIAN SPECIALIST
TSAGHKADZOR, AUGUST 3, NOYAN TAPAN. 19 years old Mikhal Herbachik,
a member of the team of Slovakia also participates in the
educational-sporting gathering of the free-style wrestling team of
Armenia being held in Tsaghkadzor. The Slovak sportsman, headed by
trainer Kajik Kostanian from Abovian, is preparing for the world
youth championship to start in Guatemala on August 31.

LEVON ARONIAN REGISTERS IN DARTMOUTH DRAWN GAMES AT HIS EXPENSE
DARTMOUTH, AUGUST 3, NOYAN TAPAN. World cup-holder Levon Aronian
from Yerevan has 4 rounds continouosly finished his meetings at the
Dartmouth international chess tournament with a peaceful result. He
shared the point on August 2 with representative of Germany 20 years
old Arkadi Naiditsch, the winner of the last year tournament. To recap,
A.Naiditsch managed to become a high-quality chess player owing to his
first trainer: honorary trainer of Armenia, prominent theoretician,
grand master Arshak Petrosian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MICHEL PLATINI TOO IMPRESSED BY ARMENIANS’ ATTITUDE TOWARDS FOOTBALL
YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Being a member of the FIFA and UEFA
Executive Committee, occupying a number of repsonsible posts in
programs of those structures, Michel Platini has a great contribution
in the world, including in Armenia, in the affair of development
of football. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian stated about it
on July 3, receiving Michel Platini, the Deputy President of the
Football Federation of France, a member of the FIFA and UEFA Executive
Committee. He mentioned that Michel Platini greatly contributed to
implementation of all usefull initiatives for the Armenian football. As
Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Government’s Information and Public
Relations Department, the RA Prime Minister attached importance
to the delegation’s visit especially in this period of time when
Armenia is with great lustre preparing for the Days of Armenia in
France. Touching upon implementation of programs on development of
football and investments, A.Margarian especially mentioned the FIFA
“Goal” program, UEFA “Hat Trick,” also the “Small Fields” programs,
implementation of which is being carried out by the Football Federation
of Armenia at a great speed and has arosen considerable enthusiasm and
interest in all marzes and communities of Armenia. Those, according
to A.Margarian, are important as much as they are the first voluminous
works after worsening of the state of sporting infrastructures during
the last years: more than 15 similar fields have already been opened,
and thier number will reach 40. The RA Prime Minister considered
welcoming making of such decisions by the FIFA and UEFA which help the
progress of football just in developing countries as football states
has no such problems any longer. M.Platini mentioned that being in
Armenia for the first time, he is too impressed by the Armenians’
attitude towards football. “Yesterday we saw when opening the small
fields how much energy and love exist in children towards football,
and with what diligence they go in for that sport. It is promising,”
M.Platini said, mentioning in his speech a number of football players
of the Armenian origin as well, having had their contribution in
development of the French football. At the end of the meeting,
at which Jean-Louis Valentin, the Deputy Director General of the
Football Federation of France, and FFA President Ruben Hayrapetian
participated as well, a readiness was bilaterally expressed, within
borders of possibility, to assist development of the Armenian football
from now on as well.

ARMAVIR MARZ TO BE PROVIDED WITH 25 UNITS OF NEW AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY NEXT MONTH
ARMAVIR, AUGUST 3, NOYAN TAPAN. “Armavir marz is one of the best
Armenian regions and a leading one in the agricultural sector,”
RA Minister of Agriculture Davit Lokian stated during his visit to
Armavir marz on August 2. In his words, this year the harvest is good
in the marz, which has always been noted for agricultural foodstuffs
production. During the minister’s meetings with residents of the
villages Arax, Hoktember, Lenughi, Talvorik, Hushakert and Sovetakan
of Armavit marz, issues of interest to peasants, particularly the
issue of an increase in prices of agricultural foodstuffs, were
discussed. The local peasants highlighted the problem of lack of
agricultural machinery: in their opinion, the machinery available
is not enough to carry out agricultural work, whereas that at their
disposal is too old. The minister promised that the problem will be
solved within a month. According to him, 25 units of new agricultural
machinery will be allocated to the Armavir regional administration,
which will distribute the equipment to local communities. The regional
governor Albert Heroyan expressed confidence that the peasant is
the best producer. According to him, in recent years the peasants
managed to overcome all the difficulties and today they are able to
organize agricultural activities efficiently. He said the prices of
agricultural foodstuffs will grow year after year. Last year purchasing
organizations bought 1 kg of tomato for 22 drams, whereas this year
they purchase it for 28 drams.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FAMOUS PAINTER ZHANSEM’S NEW WORKS EXHIBITED AT PARIS “MATIGNON” GALLERY
PARIS, AUGUST 3, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Prominent French
Armenian painter Zhansem’s (Hovhannes Semerjian) 40 canvases
were exhibited in June-July at the famous “Matignon” gallery of
Paris. According to the Istanbul “Marmara” daily, the canvases are
mainly new works. On the occasion of opening of the new exhibition
the Paris “World” newspaper wrote that the time goes, but the charm of
Zhansem’s art does not fade away. Dance and nature of Armenia became
a source for the painter’s inspiration. Three landscape paintings
on the Armenian theme were a pleasant surprise for visitors of the
exhibition. Those are a tribute of respect by the painter to his
native country, its nature. The “Walls” series of paintings also
took some place at the exhibition. During the exhibition days the
visitors were also able to watch an interesting video film dedicated
to Zhansem’s life and art. This last exhibition of Zhansem’s works
finished on July 29.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FRENCH ARMENIAN PHOTOGRAPHER INTENDS TO PUBLISH BOOK CONCERNING JAVAKHK
AKHALKALAK, AUGUST 3, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. French Armenian
photographer Antoin Agoujian has been in Javakhk during the recent
days. According to the “A-Info” agency, A.Agoujian took few thousands
of photos in the territories of a number of settlements and historic
monuments of Javakhk. A.Agoujian intends to publish in France a book
picturing by his photos the past and present of Javakhk.

MICHEL PLATINI: “MODERN FOOTBALL BELONGS TO TRAINERS AND CLUB CHAIRMEN”
YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, NOYAN TAPAN. “Years ago football belonged
to players, and now it more belongs to trainers and chairmen
of clubs.” Michel Platini, the Deputy Chairman of the Football
Federation of France, a member of the FIFA and UEFA Executive
Committees expressed such an opinion at the August 3 press-conference
convened in Sevan. According to the veteran of the French football,
the essential difference between football of his time and of today
is provided by the economic factor. M.Platini mentioned that he
visits Armenia for the first time. According to him, this visit
has a great meaning for him, as he follows the Armenian sporting
processes and have seen “what a work has been done in the direction of
development of football among the youth during some years.” Before the
press-conference, M.Platini spoke on this theme at the meeting with
RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian. Touching upon the game shown by
the team of France at the 2006 world championship, M.Platini mentioned
that the Frenchmen justified themselves at the meetings with teams of
Spain and Portugal. Responding the question if he shares the opinion
concerning the likeness of French team leader Zinedine Zidane’s and
his style of play, M.Platini said that no football player may look
like another. According to Chairman of the Football Federation of
Armenia Ruben Hayrapetian, Armenia will vote for Michel Platini at
the expected elections of the UEFA Chairman.