OFFICIAL NEWS
PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF KALMYKIA, FIDE PRESIDENT KIRSAN ILYUMZHINOV
Greeting the guest, the head of Azerbaijan shared his remembrances of the Kalmykian President’s last visit to Azerbaijan and his meeting with nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev.
Touching upon Azerbaijan-Russia relationship, President Ilham Aliyev pointed to successful links between the two countries developing in political, economic, cultural and other spheres. We are making every effort to further develop bilateral relations, the head of state said.
President of Kalmykia Kirsan Ilyumzhinov expressed his gratitude to the Azerbaijan’s leader for invitation to visit the country. He noted that people in Kalmykia remember very warmly Mr. Heydar Aliyev, who had invaluable merits in social and political life of the Soviet Union, Russia and Azerbaijan. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov conveyed to Azerbaijan President best wishes from the residents of Kalmykia and leadership of the World Chess Federation. Kalmykia and Azerbaijan have much in common: the Caspian Sea, natural resources, and great love to chess, an ancient kind of sport, he emphasized. The FIDE President described Azerbaijan as a chess power, which had won such glory throughout the world. He pointed to success of young Azerbaijani grandmasters Teymur Rajabov and Shahriyar Mammadyarov during the World Men’s Chess Championship being held in Libya. Finally, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov expressed hope that it is a citizen of Azerbaijan who will be the next world champion.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, in his turn, expressed gratitude to the FIDE President for constant care about Azerbaijani chess players. We believe that the chess crown will return to Baku, the head of state concluded.