RA MINISTRY OF DIASPORA AND ARMENIAN CHESS ACADEMY SIGN COOPERATION MEMORANDUM

Noyan Tapan
Dec 24, 2009

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The RA Ministry
of Diaspora and the Armenian Chess Academy signed a memorandum on
cooperation on December 24. The document was signed by Minister
of Diaspora Ms. Hranush Hakoian and President of the Chess Academy
Smbat Lputian.

The memorandum envisages exchanging experience of the victories of
Armenia’s chess players with the Diaspora. The experience gained
through work done by the Chess Academy in Armenian marzes (provinces)
will be spread in Diaspora communities, organizations and schools. "We
will try to awake the Armenian chess talent in the Diaspora as well,"
the minister stated, adding that in 2010 the sides will organize an
All-Armenian Chess Olympiad. The Chess Academy will deal with the
issue of forming age groups for this tournament. In the words of Ms.

Hakobian, a tournament between Armenia’s national team and a team
composed of chess players who won in Diaspora contests can also
be organized.

She said the Chess Academy will run chess courses for the Diaspora
youth on a visit to Armenia. Besides, the Chess Academy will organize
online courses for Diaspora Armenians by using the opportunities of
the Armenian Virtual College of the Armenian General Benevolent Union
(AGBU). In this way the sides will help involve the Diaspora Armenian
chess potential in the movement "Armenia is a chess superpower".

According to S. Lputian, the Armenian Chess Academy and the Chess
Federation of Armenia responded with pleasure to the ministry’s
proposal to cooperate. He said that the methods of promoting chess
among the younger generation in the Diaspora are already being worked
out. S. Lputian underlined that they have set themselves the task
of organizing tournaments with the participation of Diaspora chess
players, noting that the Diaspora has some first-class players. He
expressed confidence that such initiatives "will be accepted warmly
and ethusiastically, and with each passing year this enthusiasm will
become more useful for carrying out our common aspirations".