On August 17, Head of Republic of Kalmykia, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov arrived in Peru.

In Lima he took part in a live “From Dusk Till Dawn” night broadcast at the most popular radio station Peru RPP, as well as in the broadcasts on national Sports and Capital radio stations and gave an interview to Peruvian television.

Broadcast on RPP radio station, the most popular one in Peru

Broadcast on the Capital 96.7 radio station

Broadcast on the Sports radio station

Meeting with leadership of Norbert Wiener University

The same day Ilyumzhinov visited Norbert Wiener University, during the previous visit to Lima FIDE President received a diploma of the Doctor of Honours of Norbert Wiener University.

He met with the leadership of the university, which enrolls 5500 students and 700 professors and teachers. The rector Mr. Cezar Lip Licham made a tour around the university and told about the main directions of scientific activity and promising ideas of collaboration with the colleagues from the Kalmyk State University.

TV Peru

At the proposal of Charge d’Affaires of Russia in Peru Mr. Alexander Khokholikov, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov met with the staff of Russian Embassy in Lima.

FIDE President is interviewed by the Peruvian television

On August 15-16, Head of Republic of Kalmykia, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov visited Trinidad and Tobago where he participated in the opening ceremony of the 1st Caribbean Cup – UMADA Cup.

The idea to hold such tournament was born two months ago during FIDE President’s visit to Cuba at the closing ceremony of Capablanca Memorial. And now more than 100 chess players from 15 countries representing the Caribbean have come to Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, to participate in Umada Cup.

“This tournament is very important for support of young chess players, in order that they may gain the necessary international experience to improve their ratings,” said Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

At the opening ceremony were also present the Continental President for Americas Mr. Jorge Vega, Chairman of FIDE CACDEC Commission Alan Herbert, as well as the presidents of Caribbean chess federations.

At the meetings with leaders of FIDE the issues in respect of the 39th World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk were discussed, as well as the other urgent issues of national federations, and primarily the implementation of “Chess in Schools” programme.

Please see the PICTORIAL REPORT from UMADA CUP 2010.

We welcome the support of the National Federation of Palestine!

We are heading towards a great victory with over 50% of the National Federations that are voting in the upcoming FIDE Elections supporting Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and his team, “One World. One Vision.”!

Meanwhile, our opponent Anatoly Karpov and his team are still claiming the support of only 23 National Federations.  However, the number of supporters claimed by Karpov and his team is not even accurate.

Russia, Honduras, and Bosnia & Herzegovina have already made their support for Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and his Team quite clear and the fact that Karpov refuses to update his list of supporters to reflect the accurate number (which is 20), is proof that he is desperately trying to hang on to even the National Federations that are no longer supporting him.

Our opponent refuses to accept the reality of the situation, which is that the National Federations are speaking louder than ever and they are supporting the “One World. One Vision.” Team!  This has led Karpov and his team to other acts of desperation in an effort to hang on to the thread that still ties them to this election.

Not only does our opponent undermine and challenge the decisions made by the National Federations supporting our team, which in itself is disrespectful to those National Federations, but our opponents desperate tactics put at risk the democratic values the World Chess community has come to embrace.

We would like to thank the 85 National Federations who have come forth to support Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and the “One World. One Vision.” Team!

We will provide you with more updates on the National Federations supporting our team as they become available!

Gens una sumus
“One World. One Vision.” Campaign

On August 10, Head of Republic of Kalmykia, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov arrived on a working visit to Ramallah, Palestine, where he met with the leadership of this country, as well as with the Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Palestine Dzhabrail Rajoub to discuss the development of chess in Palestine. As Mr. Rajoub said, NOC of Palestine is interested in developing and strengthening the closest ties with FIDE. He noted that chess is one of the most popular sports in Palestine. At the press conference Mr. Rajoub said that Palestine supports Kirsan Ilyumzhinov in the upcoming Presidential elections and noted that he intends to express the position of Palestine’s NOC on introduction of chess into the Olympic Games at the meeting with IOC President Jacques Rogge, who plans to visit Palestine in this October.

The same day Kirsan ILyumzhinov met with the President of the Palestinian National Authority, Chairman of Fatah movement Mahmoud Abbas. At the beginning of the meeting the leaders discussed the development of chess in Palestine. The Palestinian leader noted that he is a big fan of this royal game and is interested in Kalmykia’s experience on the introduction of chess into the school curriculum, on this occasion he expressed his intention to send a delegation to Kalmykia, as well as to invite Kalmyk specialists to Palestine. After all these preparations the President of the Palestinian National Authority will sign a decree on the introduction of chess into the school curriculum. FIDE President has invited Mahmoud Abbas to visit Kalmykia and underlined that FIDE is ready to assist in the implementation of “Chess in Schools” programme in Palestine.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov proposed to the Palestinian leader to hold the world chess match between the Palestinian and Israeli children on hundred boards. As was noted by FIDE President, this match may be a symbol of solving the contradictions with the help of sports and at the peace table.”In this case, it is a chess table can become a table of peace and friendship,” said Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. Mahmoud Abbas has endorsed this proposal and suggested to hold the match in the place of the separation wall, which is currently being constructed in accordance with previous decisions. Mahmoud Abbas stressed that the Palestinian leadership will do everything possible to organize this match, which will become a truly international event. It is planned to hold the world chess match during the IOC President Jacques Rogge’s visit to Palestine.

In conclusion, Mahmoud Abbas said that the Palestinian leadership supports the candidacy of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov in the upcoming Presidential elections. He thanked FIDE President for an assistance and support of chess in Palestine and awarded Kirsan Ilyumzhinov a memento. FIDE President in his turn gave Mahmoud Abbas a golden badge of FIDE as a sign of merit for the chess development in his country.

One of the results of the working visit of the FIDE President ot Cyprus is that the representatives of the country’s chess federation once again expressed their support to our candidate. This has been noted in the minutes of the meeting, with Federation’s President Christoforos Tornaritis, General Secretary Paris Klerides, Treasurer Constantinos Papatryfonos, rating manager Pegasios Hadjinikolaou as well as representatives of chess clubs from Limasol, Larnaca, Famagosia.

The FIDE President has informed the audience of the course of the preparations for the 39th Chess Olympiad and the 81st FIDE Congress. There was an interesting and sincere exchange of opinions on the most important issues of chess life and problems which the Cyprus Federation is facing as well as other mutually interesting issues.

The FIDE Continental President Jorge Vega shared his experience from working visits of the FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and expressed his opinion on the electoral campaign of his opponent.

We all know that for some time now political powers have been activated in various Continents in respect of the forthcoming elections, which will be held during the FIDE General Assembly in Khanty – Mansiysk.

These elections will determine the persons who will rule the destiny of world chess for the period 2010 – 2014. The current President, Mr. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, and GM Anatoly Karpov are competing for the highest position.

Contrary to what one would think, considering chess as a discipline where education, culture and fair play prevail, this campaign has been marked by the effort of the group of GM Karpov to discredit the figure of his rival, applying the most absurd distortions, accusations without any base or proof, or more severe pressure by government authorities, violating the principle of self-determination of the National Federations which are after all those who elect the President of FIDE.

This policy consisting of not presenting a concrete working plan supported by facts but only of mere campaign promises to be fulfilled during the first term of GM Karpov as President and adding to all this the idea expressed by some of his closest followers to question the democratic principle of “one federation-one-vote”, which is about giving advantage to the decisions of the powerful federations, has had a highly negative effect on the aspirations of GM Karpov to become the next FIDE President. This is also evident from the small number of federations that have expressed their support to him.

Their campaign strategy has not been the best either, concentrating all their efforts initially in America, where they turned their “more significant forces” without any result, while at the same time they neglected other areas which were practically taken over by Ilyumzhinov.

In the very beginning they started their campaign in Central America, where everyone was aware of the position of the President of the Federation of El Salvador, who was totally against Mr. Ilyumzhinov and where they succeeded to endorse only one more Federation. They talked about the “cascade effect” which would mean that they would obtain the whole of Central America and that this would furthermore persuade South America and the Caribbean. The result was counterproductive and their way of conducting the campaign using pressure or promises only consolidates the strength of Ilyumzhinov in the Continent. So it would seem that they did not understand that everything depends on the feeling of the water of the cascade.

After having faced alone in my capacity as the highest representative of the candidacy of Mr. Ilyumnzhinov in the Continent during these two months the entire team of GM Karpov who by the way I repeat, only got one Federation at that time and seeing their failure at the meetings held in Bolivia, Peru, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, Kirsan paid a campaign visit across Bolivia, Peru and Costa Rica during which these federations reaffirmed their support that America had openly declared. I had the opportunity to accompany him on this tour and witness the pressures that the federations had been submitted to by the team of GM Karpov or the false arguments that had mentioned in their effort to get at least a simple letter of support.

I met Kirsan at the airport of La Paz, Bolivia, at 2 AM, (the airport of El Alto owes its name to the fact that it is constructed at an altitude of 4.200 meters). We were both very tired after travelling – Kirsan from Johannesburg and I from Mexico. However at that time we had the first conversation with Mr. Alfonso Ferrufino, President of the Federation of Bolivia, and the Consulate of the Russian Embassy in Bolivia, who accompanied us all the time. The next day we had a private meeting with the President of the Federation during which a series of supporting actions was decided for the development of chess in Bolivia and later there was a meeting with chess players and journalists during which, to a question from someone about who Bolivia will vote for at the FIDE elections the categorical answer was “Kirsan Ilyumzhinov”. Late in the afternoon and always accompanied by the Russian Consulate we met with a Senior Official of the Ministry of Health, (its competence covers sport) where Kirsan explained the plans for the introduction of chess in the school – curriculum and confirmed the granting of educative and chess material for this project. The next morning a group of players was at the airport to wish him goodbye.

The presence of the representative of the Russian Embassy during the entire visit of Kirsan is of great importance and rendered the claims that GM Karpov was the official candidate of Russia meaningless.

The next morning we travelled to Lima, Peru, where we were welcomed at the airport by Dr. Milton Iturry, President of the Federation of Peru. The activities started immediately; Mr. Ilyumzhinov was announced honoris causa as Dr. by the University of Lima. Then, there was a press conference and interview with Mr. Arturo Woodman, President of the Sports Institute of Peru, where he announced the Copa Latina with a personal contribution of 60,000 USD which will take place in Cuzco. I have to say that Mr. Ilyumzhinov at that moment entrusted me with the coordination of this Cup, setting as a condition to have it organised in August, before the elections in order to show that his policy is based on facts and not simple campaign promises like the ones of GM Karpov. Everyone congratulated him on this event which is the first of a series of 5 events which will be organised every year having the same characteristics and different venues.

The following day we went to Cuzco, venue of the first Copa Latina, where we were accepted with honours; we were named Inca and received a “Sceptre” from the Mayor of Cuzco. It is not necessary to mention the interest that the event caused, as the prize fund (50,000 USD) is the biggest that has been granted lately in Americas. Mr. Ilyumzhinov was very interested in the Inca traditions and showed that he was also already familiar with them.

Afterwards, he attended a chess event which was held in the primary school of La Salle de Cuzco, where he exchanged views with the audience and played some games with the children under the applause of the crowd. The summary of the visit was made by one of the persons in the audience who shouted as we were leaving “much better than Karpov”.

During our private dinner with Dr. Iturry he reported the pressures that he was submitted to by Mr. Conn, whose activity was taken into consideration when taking the decision to openly support Kirsan. Dr. Iturry pointed out that he was very satisfied not to have received any pressure by Kirsan or his team that would influence his decision.

The Chief of Commercial Affairs of Russia in Peru was accompanying us all the time, which also dispelled any ideas of Russian support to GM Karpov.

At the final stage of the trip we went to Costa Rica, not without setback as they would not let Kirsan board on the plane because he had not taken the vaccine for yellow fever. It has to be said that Kirsan and the embassy did the impossible and after revaccinating him he embarked on the next flight. Kirsan’s effort to fulfil its commitment in Costa Rica is remarkable, in comparison to a supposed visit of the GM Karpov team to Honduras.

The trip in Costa Rica was also very busy, as the Presidents of Guatemala and Panama, the President of Zone 2.3. and some chess players from Nicaragua who wanted to express their support to Kirsan even if the Chess Federation of Nicaragua was against. All the Federations that were present had private meetings [with Kirsan] where support for the development of chess was requested and granted. At the same time Kirsan announced the celebration of the CACDEC Cup in Trinidad, also in August, for the same reasons previously mentioned, with a personal fund of USD 40,000 and a cycle of 5 years, as contribution to the development of young prospects.

Our activities went on the following day with the visit to the President of the National Olympic Committee and lunch with the Minister of Education, where Kirsan promised to furnish and cover the technical needs of the future office of the Chess Federation which will be opened next year in the new football stadium.

In the evening we had a conference with the players after some blitzs with IM Gonzalez and Castro, during which any subject they wanted was left open for discussion, which caused a very positive reaction of the audience and was summarized by an open letter of Mr. Jorge Ramirez. In the end we attended the Women’s Championship which was being held in the Chess Club of Costa Rica; a blitz game with the national champion. WIM Carolina Muñoz, words of gratefulness to the President, Mr. Luis Padilla and Messrs. Castro and Alvarado and a small break before going back to everyday work.

From fide.com

On the 9th of August there was a working meeting of the FIDE President with the representatives of the Cyprus Chess Federation, with Federation’s President Christoforos Tornaritis, General Secretary Paris Klerides, Treasurer Constantinos Papatryfonos, Rating Manager Pegasios Hadjinikolaou as well as representatives of chess clubs from Limasol, Larnaca, Famagosia. The FIDE President has informed the audience of the course of the preparations for the 39th Chess Olympiad and the 81st FIDE Congress. There was an interesting and sincere exchange of opinions on the most important issues of chess life and problems which the Cyprus Federation is facing.

On August, 6 Head of Republic of Kalmykia, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov arrived on a working visit to BEIRUT, LEBANON, where he met with the leadership of the Lebanese Chess Federation to discuss the development of chess in this country.

On August, 7 Kirsan Ilyumzhinov arrived on a working visit to DAMASCUS, SYRIA. In Damascus he met with the leadership of the Chess Federation of Syria and representatives of the government of this country. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov visited the chess club of Damascus where he had a meeting with Syria’s young chess players and fans. This event was attended by President of Syrian Chess Federation Hani Al-Bitar and Charge d’Affaires of the Russian Federation in Syria Dmitry Dogadkin.

The highlight of the visit of the President of the World Chess Federation to the Syrian Arab Republic was a meeting with the Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Syria Mowaffak Joumaa.

At beginning Mr. Joumaa welcomed Kirsan Ilyumzhinov as the leader of Kalmykia and the President of the Federation of the wisest game who came to an ancient capital of the world. During the conversation Mr. Joumaa described in details the development of sports in Syria. According to Mr. Joumaa system of physical culture and sports in Syria is similar to the Soviet system with some specific national features in accordance with government policy of the President of the Syrian Arab Republic, the General Secretary of the ruling Ba’ath party Bashar al Assad.

As pointed out by Mr. Joumaa chess is the the most popular intellectual game of Syria after the football and basketball. Moreover, the Syrian leadership intends to intensify efforts to develop and popularize chess in the country. In particular Mr. Joumaa said that he is very interested in the experience of Kalmykia on the introduction of chess in the compulsory general education programme.

In connection with it he intends to send a delegation to Kalmykia to study the experience. Also Mr. Joumaa suggested to study the possibility of twinning between the Republic of Kalmykia and the province Damascus (Damascus Rif) within the friendly relations between Russia and Syria. In turn Kirsan Ilyumzhinov told in details about the development of sport in Kalmykia, chess education and the influence of chess on intellectual level of the Kalmyk pupils.

In addition FIDE President noted that in accordance with FIDE programme “Chess in School” World Chess Federation is ready to render methodical assistance in implementing this program in Syria. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov officially invited Mowaffak Joumaa to come to the Republic of Kalmykia on a friendly visit.

Another topic of conversation of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and Mowaffak Joumaa was the forthcoming 39th World Chess Olympiad in the September 2010 and the elections of the FIDE President.

As noted by Mr. Joumaa FIDE President Kisran Ilyumzhinov being over 15 years the head of FIDE in deeds proved commitment to the FIDE motto – “Gens Una Sumus” and made an enormous contribution to the popularization of the wisest game of chess around the world and has fulfilled all his obligations.

In conclusion he said that the Syria’s leadership fully supports the current President of FIDE and the head of one of the subjects of the Russian Federation and invited Kirsan Ilyumzhinov to visit Syria after the election for president of FIDE. General Mowavvak Joumaa: “For us it the support of one of the heads of the Russia’s subjects is principal as Russia is one of the states friendly to Syria”.

We welcome the support of the National Federations of Hungary, Indonesia and Syria!

Since we are expecting that 167 National Federations are voting in the upcoming FIDE Election and with 84 National Federations now supporting our vision, we have achieved the winning number!

More National Federations are coming forward with their support for the “One World. One Vision.” team since they are disappointed with Karpov and his Team’s negative campaigning.

We would like to thank the 84 National Federations who have come forth to support Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and the “One World. One Vision.” Team!

We will provide you with more updates on the National Federations supporting our team as they become available!

Gens Una Sumus
“One World. One Vision”

PRESS RELEASE

Arab Chess Federation Supports Kirsan for the Presidency

Mr. Ibrahim Al Bannai, the President of the Arab Chess Federation informed the media that the Arab Chess Federation, which includes 18 Arab countries, announced that 16 countries, re-nominate the current President of FIDE, H.E. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

“We, in the Arab Chess Federation support Kirsan for re-election for many reasons, based on our experience and our confidence with him as a person.  He has achieved many of the features for chess in a developing country that represent the broad base of chess enthusiasts in the world, especially in the developing countries and our Arab region.” reflected Mr. Al Bannai.

Mr. Al Bannai continued,

“1) Kirsan has given his support for the Arab Chess Federations in many occasions, as he did with many of the Chess countries around the world.
2) Many highly qualified Arabs hold high positions within the FIDE presidential board and Executive board, and FIDE committees for examples Mr. Khalifa Al Hitmi (Qatar), Mr. Nizar Elhaj (Libya), H.E Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan (UAE) and Lakhder Mazouz (Algeria). In addition, I am member of the Executive Board and there a large number of contributing Arab members in various FIDE commissions and committees.
3) President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov who nominated himself for another term,  has provided great services to chess players in the world through the support of many events, as well as many other players in many countries, and helped to solve many problems of many federations in appropriate ways and even gave them his personal support as well.
4) The President has an excellent and outstanding and ambitious program, with ambitious goals that his team is certainly capable of implementing, and similar to the aspirations and the vision of Arab Chess Federation and the members from Arab countries.
5) President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov supports many of the proposals that serve the Chess world.
6) President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is supportive of broadening the base and is keen on developing the interests of chess players, young and old.”

Mr. Al Bannai finished by stating that he believes that Kirsan and his team are able to offer more in the coming period and they would be partners in the new achievements.

Mohamed El Husseiny
Executive Director
Dubai Chess & Culture Club
Tel : 00971 4 2966664
Fax: 00971 4 2968880
Mobil: 050 4538844