Tweet
BAKU PLEDGES TO ENSURE ARMENIAN CHESS PLAYERS' SECURITY
asbarez
Wednesday, November 28th, 2012
by Ara Khachatourian
Armenian World Chess champions return victoriously from the Istanbul
tournament in September
BAKU-Azerbaijan will ensure the security of Armenian participants of
the World Chess Cup 2015 and the World Chess Olympiad 2016,
Azerbaijani Youth and Sports Minister Azad Rahimov said Wednesday
during contract signing ceremony, reported the Trend news agency.
In February, Armenian Grandmaster Levon Aronian, in an open letter
warned the World Chess Federation (FIDE) Chairman Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
that he would not be able to take part in the federation's World
Championship tournament if it is held in Azerbaijan.
"I'd like to inform you that the general atmosphere in Azerbaijan and
the continuous tensions between our countries make my participation in
such a high-level tournament in Azerbaijan impossible," Aronian wrote
in his February letter.
Armenia had put in a bid to host the events, but a final decision was
made in September at the General Assembly of the World Chess
Federation in Istanbul that Baku would host the next round of
championships.
Armenia won the World Champion title in September, returning to
Yerevan as heroes, amid the controversial extradition by Hungary and
pardon by Azerbaijan of convicted axe-murdered Ramil Safarov, who in
2004 killed Armenian soldier Gurgen Markarian at a NATO Partnership
for Peace gathering in Budapest.
"An important event, such as the Candidates Tournament, requires peace
of mind and special concentration. No circumstances, if they are not
chess-related, should prevent the grandmaster from demonstrating all
of his skills. Unfortunately, at this moment no Armenian can find
favorable or adequate psychological atmosphere in Azerbaijan, whereas
that is something absolutely necessary. In my opinion, all the
participants should be in equal conditions, which is impossible in the
event the tournament is held Azerbaijan. Security guaranties and any
kind of additional support cannot be a remedy," explained Aronian.
"Taking into account the aforementioned considerations, I would like
to inform you that I would be delighted to take part in the Candidates
Tournament in any other country. However, my participation in the
candidates' tournament in Azerbaijan has to be excluded," said
Aronian.
"We are ready to host chess players from Armenia, with all security
issues to be addressed at the appropriate level. This is not the first
time Azerbaijan is hosting Armenian players," Rahimov said.
Ilyumzhinov announced that Yerevan will play host to the FIDE
presidential council from January 18 to 20, 2013, which will focus on
the safety, accommodation and participation of Armenian players at the
events.
Commenting on FIDE proposals on holding a children's chess tournament
with participation of young Azerbaijani and Armenian chess players in
Nagorno Karabakh, Rahimov said that Baku could support the initiative
if security of all Azerbaijani guests were ensured.
asbarez
Wednesday, November 28th, 2012
by Ara Khachatourian
Armenian World Chess champions return victoriously from the Istanbul
tournament in September
BAKU-Azerbaijan will ensure the security of Armenian participants of
the World Chess Cup 2015 and the World Chess Olympiad 2016,
Azerbaijani Youth and Sports Minister Azad Rahimov said Wednesday
during contract signing ceremony, reported the Trend news agency.
In February, Armenian Grandmaster Levon Aronian, in an open letter
warned the World Chess Federation (FIDE) Chairman Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
that he would not be able to take part in the federation's World
Championship tournament if it is held in Azerbaijan.
"I'd like to inform you that the general atmosphere in Azerbaijan and
the continuous tensions between our countries make my participation in
such a high-level tournament in Azerbaijan impossible," Aronian wrote
in his February letter.
Armenia had put in a bid to host the events, but a final decision was
made in September at the General Assembly of the World Chess
Federation in Istanbul that Baku would host the next round of
championships.
Armenia won the World Champion title in September, returning to
Yerevan as heroes, amid the controversial extradition by Hungary and
pardon by Azerbaijan of convicted axe-murdered Ramil Safarov, who in
2004 killed Armenian soldier Gurgen Markarian at a NATO Partnership
for Peace gathering in Budapest.
"An important event, such as the Candidates Tournament, requires peace
of mind and special concentration. No circumstances, if they are not
chess-related, should prevent the grandmaster from demonstrating all
of his skills. Unfortunately, at this moment no Armenian can find
favorable or adequate psychological atmosphere in Azerbaijan, whereas
that is something absolutely necessary. In my opinion, all the
participants should be in equal conditions, which is impossible in the
event the tournament is held Azerbaijan. Security guaranties and any
kind of additional support cannot be a remedy," explained Aronian.
"Taking into account the aforementioned considerations, I would like
to inform you that I would be delighted to take part in the Candidates
Tournament in any other country. However, my participation in the
candidates' tournament in Azerbaijan has to be excluded," said
Aronian.
"We are ready to host chess players from Armenia, with all security
issues to be addressed at the appropriate level. This is not the first
time Azerbaijan is hosting Armenian players," Rahimov said.
Ilyumzhinov announced that Yerevan will play host to the FIDE
presidential council from January 18 to 20, 2013, which will focus on
the safety, accommodation and participation of Armenian players at the
events.
Commenting on FIDE proposals on holding a children's chess tournament
with participation of young Azerbaijani and Armenian chess players in
Nagorno Karabakh, Rahimov said that Baku could support the initiative
if security of all Azerbaijani guests were ensured.