FIDE PRESIDENT APPRECIATES ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES EFFORTS ‘TOWARD CHESS DEVELOPMENT’

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 18 2006

YEREVAN, October 17. /ARKA/. President of the Federation Internationale
des Echecs (International Chess Federation – FIDE), President of
Kalmykia Kyrsan Ilumzhinov appreciates the Armenian authorities’
efforts toward the development of chess. At his meeting with RA
President Robert Kocharyan and President of the Chess Federation
of Armenia, RA Minister of Defense Serge Sargsyan he stated that
serious attention on the part of the country’s authorities produces
good results – Armenian chess-players’ achievements. Ilumzhinov said
that in FIDE rating Armenia ranks 4th among 165 countries.

In his turn, President Robert Kocharyan pointed out that the Armenian
chess-players’ great achievements have recently inspired many people
and added to the popularity of chess.

During the meeting, Ilumzhinov, Kocharyan and Sargsyan exchanged
views on further development of chess in Armenia, addressing the
possibility of optional training in schools.

Kyrsan Ilumzhinov is in Yerevan to take part in the world junior
championship held in Armenia on October 2-16, 2006. 17-year-old Zaven
Andreasyan (Armenia) won the championship.