KARABAKH RECEIVED CHESS HEROES
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
07 July 2006
On the 37th Chess Olympiad in Turin Armenia re-established itself as
a chess power. The men’s team got 36 out of 42 points: 10 victories,
3 draws, 0 defeats. President Arkady Ghukassian invited the Olympic
champions to NKR. On July 4 there was a meeting with the men’s team of
Armenia at the Home of Officers. The NKR government led by President
Ghukassian and the defense minister of Armenia, the president of
the Chess Federation of Armenia Serge Sargissian were present. The
hall applauded to the world chess champions Smbat Lputian, Vladimir
Hakobian, Karen Asrian, Gabriel Sargissian, Artashes Minassian and
coach Tigran Nalbandian. Levon Aronian and Arshak Petrossian could
not come to this meeting. The minister of education Kamo Atayan
opened the ceremony. "The victory of our chess players is not a sport
victory. It is the great victory of intellect and will, immense belief
and potential of our nation," he said. NKR President Ghukassian, who
had congratulated the president of the Chess Federation immediately
after the tournament, now awarded the Medal of Gratitude and personally
congratulated the members of the chess team of Armenia. NKR Minister of
Defense Seyran Ohanian also congratulated the men’s team and awarded
the special medal of the Defense Army to the team and the minister
of defense of Armenia Serge Sargissian.
LAURA GRIGORIAN. 07-07-2006