Republican Party of Armenia

Today, at the Tigran Petrossian Chess House there took place the report and election convention of the Chess Federation of Armenia. The convention was chaired by the President of the Chess Federation of Armenia, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan. At the gathering summarized were activities of the Federation for year 2011 and set were new goals.

Before taking up the agenda items, President Serzh Sargsyan noted that this year the convention has coincided with one of the most momentous events in the history of the Armenian chess and history of the Armenian people in general: Fifty years ago, on May 20, 1963 a genius of our nation Tigran Petrossian became the 9th World Chess Champion. “It can be stated without doubt that all the success of our chess players and glorious achievements are results and continuance of the traditions and great legacy left by Tigran Petrossian,” President Sargsyan underscored.

Serzh Sargsyan noted with satisfaction that in this period of time, the chess organization of Armenia has achieved incredible results. The President highlighted some of them: the Armenian national team’s victory at the World Championship in 2011 in Ningbo, China; Armenia’s third victory at the World Chess Olympiad in 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey.

The President expressed gratitude to the members of the Armenian national men’s team and all those who in different ways assisted these talented chess players in revealing their potential. Serzh Sargsyan spoke also about successful performance of the women’s chess team, noting however that their achievements are somewhat lagging behind those of the guys. The President expressed hope the women’s chess team would also become a champion or win the Cup.

The reporting period was assessed as important also because Armenia has become the first country in the world which made chess a mandatory course in the secondary school programs.

After the adoption of the agenda of the convention, the First Vice-Chair of the Federation Smbat Lputian, keeping on with the Chairman of the Federation presented in greater details all the conducted works. In the framework of the agenda, presented was also the report of the oversight commission of the Federation and set the main directions for the Federation’s forthcoming activities. The works of the Chess Federation of Armenia for the reporting period were given a positive assessment.

The participants of the convention discussed the progress report, presented also works conducted in this period of time in the regions of the Republic aimed at the development of chess playing as well as the existing problems.

Later, there took place the elections of the Chairman of the Federation and the Board of the Federation. The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan was re-elected the Chairman of the Armenian Chess Federation. The delegates of the convention discussed and approved the Board of the Federation comprising 59 members and the composition of the oversight commission.

After the convention, the newly elected Board of the Federation held its first meeting. In accordance with the Charter of the Federation, the Board approved the candidatures of the Vice-Chairs, Executive Director, and Secretary General who are members of the Council of the Federation. Smbat Lputian was elected the first Vice Chair of the Federation, Vice Chairs are Yuri Arustamian, Gagik Gevorkian, Hovik Khalikian, Levon Yolian, Tigran Sarkissian, and Ashot Vardapetian. Hrachik Tavadian was elected Executive Director, Gagik Hovhannissian was elected Secretary General. Vanik Zakarian was re-elected the Honorary Chairman of the Federation.

At the meeting appointed were also chairmen of the commissions of the Federation.