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SPORT V. POLITICS: SARGSYAN AIMS A BLOW AT TSARUKYAN WITH APPOINTMENT OF MINISTER
POLITICS | 08.05.13 | 15:21
Photolure
Newly appointed minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Yuri Vardanyan
(left) with PM Tigran Sargsyan (center) and ex-minister Hrachya
Rostomyan By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN ArmeniaNow reporter
The most notable change in the newly-formed cabinet is, perhaps,
President Serzh Sargsyan's advisor Yuri Vardanyan's appointment to
the Sports and Youth Affairs minister's post. It has been perceived
in Armenia as an attempt to take away the control over the sports
sphere from Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) leader Gagik Tsarukyan,
chairing the Armenian National Olympic Committee.
Vardanyan, 57, who is a world and multiple Olympic champion in
weightlifting, replaces PAP-affiliated former minister Hrachya
Rostomyan. Rostomyan assumed the ministerial portfolio in June
of 2012, when PAP refused to join the ruling coalition after the
parliamentary election. Regardless of being PAP-member, he was still
appointed minister.
Tsarukyan, wealthy businessman and leader of the second biggest
parliament faction, has overseen Armenian sports for many years, often
encouraging Armenian athletes' victories with his own financial means.
Commonly, he would give apartments, cars and money awards to World,
European and Olympic championship winners. It was by understood
that the sports ministry, under which the Armenian National Olympic
Committee actually functioned, was de facto subordinate to Committee
chairman Tsarukyan.
Vardanyan's appointment is now seen by many as a slap to Tsarukyan,
especially that after the London Olympics Vardanyan spoke of Armenian
athletes rather critically for poor performance, causing the outrage
of the sports world loyal to Tsarukyan. The implication is that the
Republicans are "taking away" the sports control from Tsarukyan by
putting someone loyal to Sargsyan as the new leader.
Political analyst Yervand Bozoyan believes Armenian sports will suffer
from the change. He told ArmeniaNow that, by appointing Tsarukyan's
opponent Vardanyan, Sargsyan is politicizing sports, which so far
has been kept out of domestic political controversies.
"I see deliberation behind that appointment, an attempt to politicize
the sphere of sports, which will deepen the 'lukewarm' atmosphere the
President complained of at the time. When Serzh Sargsyan says there is
lukewarm atmosphere in the country and blames reporters for creating
it, I see the president's steps to be one of the focal reasons for
it: the prime-minister's reappointment, and now Yuri Vardanyan's
appointment will only aggravate that atmosphere," says Bozoyan.
Vardanyan has refused to offer comments on his appointment yet.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
POLITICS | 08.05.13 | 15:21
Photolure
Newly appointed minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Yuri Vardanyan
(left) with PM Tigran Sargsyan (center) and ex-minister Hrachya
Rostomyan By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN ArmeniaNow reporter
The most notable change in the newly-formed cabinet is, perhaps,
President Serzh Sargsyan's advisor Yuri Vardanyan's appointment to
the Sports and Youth Affairs minister's post. It has been perceived
in Armenia as an attempt to take away the control over the sports
sphere from Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) leader Gagik Tsarukyan,
chairing the Armenian National Olympic Committee.
Vardanyan, 57, who is a world and multiple Olympic champion in
weightlifting, replaces PAP-affiliated former minister Hrachya
Rostomyan. Rostomyan assumed the ministerial portfolio in June
of 2012, when PAP refused to join the ruling coalition after the
parliamentary election. Regardless of being PAP-member, he was still
appointed minister.
Tsarukyan, wealthy businessman and leader of the second biggest
parliament faction, has overseen Armenian sports for many years, often
encouraging Armenian athletes' victories with his own financial means.
Commonly, he would give apartments, cars and money awards to World,
European and Olympic championship winners. It was by understood
that the sports ministry, under which the Armenian National Olympic
Committee actually functioned, was de facto subordinate to Committee
chairman Tsarukyan.
Vardanyan's appointment is now seen by many as a slap to Tsarukyan,
especially that after the London Olympics Vardanyan spoke of Armenian
athletes rather critically for poor performance, causing the outrage
of the sports world loyal to Tsarukyan. The implication is that the
Republicans are "taking away" the sports control from Tsarukyan by
putting someone loyal to Sargsyan as the new leader.
Political analyst Yervand Bozoyan believes Armenian sports will suffer
from the change. He told ArmeniaNow that, by appointing Tsarukyan's
opponent Vardanyan, Sargsyan is politicizing sports, which so far
has been kept out of domestic political controversies.
"I see deliberation behind that appointment, an attempt to politicize
the sphere of sports, which will deepen the 'lukewarm' atmosphere the
President complained of at the time. When Serzh Sargsyan says there is
lukewarm atmosphere in the country and blames reporters for creating
it, I see the president's steps to be one of the focal reasons for
it: the prime-minister's reappointment, and now Yuri Vardanyan's
appointment will only aggravate that atmosphere," says Bozoyan.
Vardanyan has refused to offer comments on his appointment yet.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress