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".

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