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RA President, President of the Armenian Chess Federation Serzh Sargsyan on Thursday received a delegation headed by Saeed Al Meqbali, President of the United Arab Emirates Chess Federation (UAECF), the presidential press service reports.

Serzh Sargsyan welcomed the delegation representing the friendly state of the United Arab Emirates, expressing satisfaction with the fact that during his meeting with newly ppointed UAE Ambassador Jassim Mohammed Al Qasimi held a day earlier he had had a chance to thoroughly discuss a broad range of issues pertaining to Armenia-UAE relations and cooperation prospects, and he was very glad that sports, especially chess, would fill up the ranks of collaboration areas. 

Saeed Al Meqbali noted that he was very impressed with the special attitude of Armenians towards chess, the first successful experience of introducing chess to the curriculum of secondary schools and, in general, with the nationwide efforts to popularize the culture of playing chess regardless of age.

According to the UAECF President, the UAE was highly interested in exploring Armenia’s exemplary practice in chess and applying it domestically. He added that UAE businessmen were interested in investing in Armenia’s chess sector. Saeed Al Meqbali said that the sector’s success was also the result of the intensive activities of the Armenian Chess Federation and its president. 

Serzh Sargsyan hailed the UAE’s interest and desire to advance Armenian-UAE cooperation in chess. He expressed readiness to maximally support programs for exchange of experience and joint projects.

Following the meeting, President Serzh Sargsyan took part in a signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Cooperation and Understanding between the Armenian Chess Federation and the United Arab Emirates Chess Federation. The document was signed by Smbat Lputian, First Vice President of the Armenian Chess Federation, and UAECF President Saeed Al Meqbali.