MEETING WITH SPORTSMEN

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
11 March 05

On March 8 the president of NKR Arkady Ghukassian met with the best
sportsmen of the year. Nine of the ten sportsmen were present at
the meeting (NKR chess champion Hovik Hayrapetian is taking part
in competitions abroad). Emphasizing the importance of sport in the
life of the country, A. Ghukassian said, “The meeting with sportsmen
is a tradition. We are happy that there are new faces beside the
familiar ones. This means that the country has achievements in
this sphere. Naturally, an unrecognized country has difficulties in
establishing relationships with other countries. However, we shall
find ways to display our abilities. Sports open the doors which
are closed to politics, and your contribution to state building is
great.” Informing that the 2005-2010 program for physical training
and sports had been worked out already, the NKR minister of education,
culture and sport Ashot Ghulian said that they anticipated the aid of
the government in this question. The sportsmen present at the meeting
with the president were: Ashot Danielian (sambo wrestling, judo,
champion of NKR and RA, medallist of European and world championships),
Ararat Tavadian (football, the national team of NKR, prize winner of
the RA first league), Varouzhan Baghdassarian (table tennis, NKR and RA
champion, participated in European and world juvenile championships),
Narek Grigorian (taekwando, RA champion), Marine Musayelian (track and
field, champion of NKR and RA women’s tournament, Tehran Pan-Armenian
Games), Anna Adamian (table tennis, NKR champion, champion of the RA
championship under 12), Armine Hayrumian (volley-ball, NKR champion,
medallist of RA premier league), Davit Lalayan (karate, black belt). At
the meeting the sportsmen received prize money.

AA.
11-03-2005