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LEVON ARONYAN REFUSES TO PARTICIPATE IN CANDIDATES TOURNAMENT OF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IF THEY ARE HELD IN AZERBAIJAN
Mediamax
Feb 2 2012
Armenia
Yerevan/Mediamax/. International chess grandmaster Levon Aronyan
ruled out his participation in the Candidates Tournament of World
Championship if they are to be held in Azerbaijan.
Levon Aronyan stated this in his letter to FIDE President Kirsan
Ilyumzhinov and FIDE Presidential Board members, armchess.am reports.
"Dear Presidential Board Members
I learnt from the media, that the Chess Federations of Azerbaijan
and Bulgaria had submitted an application on holding the Candidates
Tournament of World Championship.
I'd like to inform you that general atmosphere in Azerbaijan and
continuous tensions between our countries make my participation in
such high ranked tournament in Azerbaijan impossible. A responsible
and 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 case of holding the tournament in Azerbaijan. Security guaranties
and any kind of additional support cannot be a remedy.
Taking into account the above-mentioned considerations, I inform you
that I would be delighted to take part in Candidates Tournament any
other country, but my participation in the candidates tournament in
Azerbaijan has to be excluded", the letter reads.
Levon Aronyan expressed the hope that FIDE will take into account
his opinion while discussing the issue of the tournament venue at
the Presidential Board Meeting.
Mediamax
Feb 2 2012
Armenia
Yerevan/Mediamax/. International chess grandmaster Levon Aronyan
ruled out his participation in the Candidates Tournament of World
Championship if they are to be held in Azerbaijan.
Levon Aronyan stated this in his letter to FIDE President Kirsan
Ilyumzhinov and FIDE Presidential Board members, armchess.am reports.
"Dear Presidential Board Members
I learnt from the media, that the Chess Federations of Azerbaijan
and Bulgaria had submitted an application on holding the Candidates
Tournament of World Championship.
I'd like to inform you that general atmosphere in Azerbaijan and
continuous tensions between our countries make my participation in
such high ranked tournament in Azerbaijan impossible. A responsible
and 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 case of holding the tournament in Azerbaijan. Security guaranties
and any kind of additional support cannot be a remedy.
Taking into account the above-mentioned considerations, I inform you
that I would be delighted to take part in Candidates Tournament any
other country, but my participation in the candidates tournament in
Azerbaijan has to be excluded", the letter reads.
Levon Aronyan expressed the hope that FIDE will take into account
his opinion while discussing the issue of the tournament venue at
the Presidential Board Meeting.