Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan today met with Mariam Mkrtchyan, who won the Girls U18 World Youth Championship in September and used the occasion to promote his government’s stated aim to win the world chess championship by 2025.  

“I don't want this goal to be seen as unrealistic, because the history of chess in Armenia has already brought its objective benefits, and it remains for us to conduct the right policy and implement that policy,” Pashinyan said after congratulating Mkrtchyan and her coach Zaven Andriasyan.

Mkrtchyan won the European Under-18 Junior Championships in Antalya, Turkey earlier this month.

They also discussed steps to hold international chess competitions in Armenia.