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15
10, 2011
President Serzh Sargsyan was present at the celebrations dedicated to the 60th birth anniversary of the world-famous chess player Rafael Vahanian
Today, at the A. Spendiarian Opera and Ballet National Academic Theater, the President of Armenia, President of the Armenian Chess Federation Serzh Sargsyan was present at the celebrations dedicated to the 60th birth anniversary of the world-famous chess player, international grand master, twice champion of the World Chess Olympiad and two-time title-holder in the World team championships Rafael Vahanian.
The President of Armenia warmly congratulated Rafael Vahanian on his birth anniversary and on the occasion of Armenia’s 20th anniversary of independence, for significant contribution to the development of chess, outstanding achievements and brilliant victories handed him the First Degree Medal for “Services Provided to Motherland.”
“Rafael Vahanian is a representative of the Armenian, and not only Armenian, sporting world, who has not only made a deep imprint in sports, has also led thousands, tens of thousands of people. Rafael Vahanian is not only a chess player of the Soviet era, but also part of our team’s outstanding victories. I have seen how Mr. Vahanian can lead the team, and I have seen how he fights. I am grateful to Rafael Vahanian for his worth. I am grateful to him for together with Tigran Petrossian making chess playing a passion of an entire nation, and for the fact that a small Armenia of 3 million people is called a “Chess Superpower,” President Sargsyan said.
During the event, the President of Armenia handed also the First Degree Medal for “Services Provided to Motherland” award to the Champion of Europe as a member of the Armenian national team, international grand master Elina Danieian. She has been awarded the medal on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence and for a considerable input in developing women’s chess in Armenia and achievements in the international tournaments.
Serzh Sargsyan handed also state awards to the international grand masters, World champions in team championship Robert Hovhannissian and Sergei Movsissian. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence and brilliant victory in the World Chess Team Championship and development of chess playing in Armenia Robert Hovhannissian and Sergei Movsissian were awarded Movses Khorenatsi medals.
The President of Armenia warmly congratulated Rafael Vahanian on his birth anniversary and on the occasion of Armenia’s 20th anniversary of independence, for significant contribution to the development of chess, outstanding achievements and brilliant victories handed him the First Degree Medal for “Services Provided to Motherland.”
“Rafael Vahanian is a representative of the Armenian, and not only Armenian, sporting world, who has not only made a deep imprint in sports, has also led thousands, tens of thousands of people. Rafael Vahanian is not only a chess player of the Soviet era, but also part of our team’s outstanding victories. I have seen how Mr. Vahanian can lead the team, and I have seen how he fights. I am grateful to Rafael Vahanian for his worth. I am grateful to him for together with Tigran Petrossian making chess playing a passion of an entire nation, and for the fact that a small Armenia of 3 million people is called a “Chess Superpower,” President Sargsyan said.
During the event, the President of Armenia handed also the First Degree Medal for “Services Provided to Motherland” award to the Champion of Europe as a member of the Armenian national team, international grand master Elina Danieian. She has been awarded the medal on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence and for a considerable input in developing women’s chess in Armenia and achievements in the international tournaments.
Serzh Sargsyan handed also state awards to the international grand masters, World champions in team championship Robert Hovhannissian and Sergei Movsissian. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence and brilliant victory in the World Chess Team Championship and development of chess playing in Armenia Robert Hovhannissian and Sergei Movsissian were awarded Movses Khorenatsi medals.