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Baku Pledges to Ensure Armenian Chess Players' Security

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  • Baku Pledges to Ensure Armenian Chess Players' Security

    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.

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